U.S. Church Membership Declines to Under 50%
Source: Jeffrey M. Jones, "U.S. Church Membership Falls Below Majority for First Time," Gallup News, 29 March 2021.
"47% of Americans said they belonged to a church, synagogue or mosque, down from 50% in 2018 and 70% in 1999."
"The decline in church membership is primarily a function of the increasing number of Americans who express no religious preference. Over the past two decades, the percentage of Americans who do not identify with any religion has grown from 8% in 1998-2000 to 13% in 2008-2010 and 21% over the past three years."
"The decline in church membership, then, appears largely tied to population change, with those in older generations who were likely to be church members being replaced in the U.S. adult population with people in younger generations who are less likely to belong."
"Since the turn of the century, there has been a near doubling in the percentage of traditionalists (from 4% to 7%), baby boomers (from 7% to 13%) and Gen Xers (11% to 20%) with no religious affiliation."
"Among religious groups, the decline in membership is steeper among Catholics (down 18 points, from 76% to 58%) than Protestants (down nine points, from 73% to 64%)."
"In addition to Protestants, declines in church membership are proportionately smaller among political conservatives, Republicans, married adults and college graduates. These groups tend to have among the highest rates of church membership, along with Southern residents and non-Hispanic Black adults. Over the past two decades, declines in church membership have been greater among Eastern residents and Democrats. Still, political independents have lower rates of church membership than Democrats do."
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" (Proverbs 14:34).
"Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him at the seat of the elders. He changes rivers into a wilderness and springs of water into a thirsty ground; a fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who dwell in it" (Psalms 107:32-34).
