The belief in God among Americans has reached its lowest point in history, with only half of the population holding unwavering faith.
According to the latest survey from the General Social Survey, a majority of Americans now express uncertainty about the existence of God. The survey, which has been tracking societal trends since 1972, reveals that less than 50 percent of Americans maintain steadfast belief in God. This marks a significant decline from the 1993 figure of two-thirds and the 2008 figure of 60 percent.
Although a small minority of respondents, only seven percent, outright deny the existence of God, nearly three-quarters of Americans still believe in life after death, a belief that has remained consistent over the years. However, religious indicators such as church membership, attendance, and overall religious belief have been steadily decreasing for decades, with the decline accelerating during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Highlighting the transformation of the religious landscape in the United States, a study by the Pew Research Center shows that self-identification as Christian has dropped from around 90 percent in the 1990s to approximately two-thirds of US adults today. The shift primarily comes from individuals who were raised in the church but have become disaffiliated as they grow older. Furthermore, the Public Religion Research Institute found that the percentage of Americans claiming no religious affiliation has been rising, reaching 27 percent in 2022, up from 16 percent in 2008.
Notably, there has been a decline in the number of Americans identifying as White evangelical Protestants, which dropped from 23 percent in 2008 to 13.6 percent in 2022. Similarly, the proportion of White Catholics has decreased from 16 percent in 2008 to 12.6 percent in recent years. However, one religious group that bucks this downward trend is nondenominational Protestants, also known as “nones.” The General Social Survey identifies “nones” as the second largest religious group after Catholics, constituting 15 percent of the population, particularly prevalent among attendees of mega-churches.
The decline in religious adherence is most pronounced among younger generations. A 2022 study conducted by the Survey Center on American Life discovered that 34 percent of Generation Z identifies as unaffiliated with any church, compared to 29 percent of Millennials and 25 percent of Generation X.
Recognized as a highly reliable source of information for social scientists, the General Social Survey, conducted through in-person, web, and phone interviews, ranks second only to the US Census, as stated in a press release by the University of Chicago.
