Religion by Country
Religion in the United States: Statistics & Demographics
A Christian-majority nation that grew steadily less religious for two decades — before the decline recently levelled off.
Quick answer
About 62% of U.S. adults identify as Christian (Protestant 40%, Catholic 19%, other 3%), 29% are religiously unaffiliated, and 7% belong to other religions. The Christian share has fallen from 78% in 2007, while the unaffiliated rose from 16%, though both have held roughly steady since 2019. Figures are from Pew's 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study.
- Largest group
- Christianity — 62% of adults
- Unaffiliated (‘nones’)
- 29%
- Other religions
- 7% (Jewish ~2%; Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu ~1% each)
- Data source
- Pew Research Center
- Reference study
- Religious Landscape Study 2023–24
Religion in the United States at a glance
The United States is a Christian-majority country that has grown markedly less so over two decades — though the decline has recently levelled off. The most authoritative estimates come from Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study, a survey of tens of thousands of U.S. adults; the 2023–24 edition surveyed nearly 37,000 people.
| Group | 2007 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|
| Christian | 78% | 62% |
| Unaffiliated | 16% | 29% |
| Other religions | 5% | 7% |
The main groups
Christians (62%) break down into Protestants (40%), Catholics (19%) and other Christian traditions (3%). The religiously unaffiliated — the “nones” — are 29%, comprising atheists (5%), agnostics (6%) and “nothing in particular” (19%). Other religions total 7%, with Jews at about 2% and Muslims, Buddhists and Hindus around 1% each.
Decline, then a plateau
The Christian share fell from 78% in 2007 to 62% in 2023–24, while the unaffiliated rose from 16% to 29%. Since about 2019, however, both figures have held relatively steady — a pause in a long-running trend. The generational gap remains stark: among adults under 30, fewer than half identify as Christian, and about 43% are unaffiliated.
Religious switching
A striking 35% of U.S. adults have switched away from their childhood religion, with the net flow running toward the unaffiliated and away from Christianity. This churn, more than immigration or birth rates, has driven the shifts of the past two decades.
Belief and society
The United States remains far more religious than most wealthy democracies, even as it secularises. For comparison, see religion in Canada and religion in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main religion in the United States?
Christianity is the largest religion, identified with by about 62% of U.S. adults, split mainly between Protestants (40%) and Catholics (19%).
What percentage of Americans are not religious?
About 29% of U.S. adults are religiously unaffiliated — atheist, agnostic or ‘nothing in particular’ — up from 16% in 2007.
Is Christianity declining in the United States?
The Christian share fell from 78% in 2007 to about 62% in 2023–24, but the decline has levelled off since roughly 2019.
What non-Christian religions are largest in the US?
Judaism is the largest non-Christian religion at about 2% of adults, followed by Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism at roughly 1% each.
Sources & methodology
Figures are from Pew Research Center's Religious Landscape Study, a large nationally representative survey of U.S. adults conducted in 2007, 2014 and 2023–24. The 2023–24 edition used address-based sampling and surveyed nearly 37,000 people. Because it measures self-identification, it differs from denominational membership counts.
- Pew Research Center, 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study: Executive summary.
- Pew Research Center, Decline of Christianity in the U.S. has slowed.