Religion trends among older adults, by decade born
% who say they …
Source: 2026 estimates based on Pew Research Center’s 2026 National Public Opinion Reference Survey (NPORS) conducted Jan. 30-June 18, 2026; 2025 estimates based on aggregated results from the 2025 NPORS (conducted Feb. 5-June 18, 2025) and the Center’s 2025 Cross-Sectional Engagement survey (conducted July 9-Dec. 5, 2025). All other results come from previous iterations of the NPORS (2020-23 and 2024) or the Center’s 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study.
“Religion Remains Stable in the U.S., With Mixed Signals for Young Adults”
“Religion Remains Stable in the U.S., With Mixed Signals for Young Adults”
PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE
Religion trends among older adults, by decade born
% who say they …
| Attend religious services at least monthly, among people who were born … | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2023-24 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | |
| 1980s | 25 | 26 | 23 | 31 | 28 | 32 | 27 | 32 |
| 1970s | 29 | 35 | 27 | 34 | 34 | 31 | 34 | 32 |
| 1960s | 35 | 30 | 34 | 36 | 34 | 31 | 33 | 35 |
| 1950s | 40 | 35 | 32 | 34 | 38 | 38 | 39 | 39 |
| Before 1950 | 47 | 44 | 48 | 44 | 49 | 43 | 42 | 45 |
| Pray daily, among people who were born … | ||||||||
| 1980s | 41 | 38 | 39 | 43 | 37 | 42 | 40 | 41 |
| 1970s | 52 | 50 | 47 | 50 | 47 | 49 | 47 | 52 |
| 1960s | 54 | 56 | 52 | 53 | 52 | 55 | 54 | 56 |
| 1950s | 55 | 52 | 53 | 58 | 53 | 57 | 57 | 57 |
| Before 1950 | 63 | 58 | 62 | 58 | 58 | 59 | 59 | 58 |
| View religion as very important, among people who were born… | ||||||||
| 1980s | 38 | 38 | 32 | 37 | 32 | 36 | 37 | 41 |
| 1970s | 45 | 43 | 39 | 41 | 39 | 42 | 43 | 47 |
| 1960s | 49 | 48 | 47 | 51 | 42 | 47 | 48 | 49 |
| 1950s | 51 | 48 | 48 | 51 | 47 | 52 | 54 | 52 |
| Before 1950 | 59 | 53 | 59 | 56 | 52 | 55 | 56 | 53 |
| Identify with a religion, among people who were born … | ||||||||
| 1980s | 59 | 63 | 55 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 61 | 61 |
| 1970s | 72 | 70 | 70 | 73 | 70 | 71 | 73 | 76 |
| 1960s | 80 | 80 | 80 | 79 | 78 | 79 | 78 | 79 |
| 1950s | 79 | 79 | 78 | 81 | 81 | 82 | 81 | 81 |
| Before 1950 | 86 | 84 | 84 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 85 | 86 |
Source: 2026 estimates based on Pew Research Center’s 2026 National Public Opinion Reference Survey (NPORS) conducted Jan. 30-June 18, 2026; 2025 estimates based on aggregated results from the 2025 NPORS (conducted Feb. 5-June 18, 2025) and the Center’s 2025 Cross-Sectional Engagement survey (conducted July 9-Dec. 5, 2025). All other results come from previous iterations of the NPORS (2020-23 and 2024) or the Center’s 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study.
“Religion Remains Stable in the U.S., With Mixed Signals for Young Adults”
“Religion Remains Stable in the U.S., With Mixed Signals for Young Adults”
PEW-KNIGHT INITIATIVE
