Survey year | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014 | 69% | 19% | 4% | 1% | 6% | 2% | 10,296 |
2007 | 73% | 16% | 3% | 1% | 4% | 3% | 10,484 |
Learn More: Believe in God; absolutely certain, Believe in God; fairly certain, Believe in God; not too/not at all certain, Do not believe in God
Belief in God among 50-64 year olds by religious group
% of 50-64 year olds who say they…
Religious tradition | Believe in God; absolutely certain | Believe in God; fairly certain | Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | Believe in God; don't know | Do not believe in God | Other/don't know if they believe in God | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Catholic | 66% | 27% | 4% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 2,277 |
Evangelical Protestant | 90% | 9% | 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 2,758 |
Historically Black Protestant | 89% | 9% | 2% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 622 |
Jewish | 41% | 26% | 15% | < 1% | 13% | 5% | 236 |
Mainline Protestant | 70% | 23% | 4% | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1,819 |
Mormon | 92% | 8% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 168 |
Unaffiliated (religious "nones") | 33% | 24% | 10% | 1% | 26% | 6% | 1,838 |
Learn More: Believe in God; absolutely certain, Believe in God; fairly certain, Believe in God; not too/not at all certain, Do not believe in God
Switch Display To: religious group among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
Demographic✭Information
Generational cohort among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who are…
Belief in God | Younger Millennial | Older Millennial | Generation X | Baby Boomer | Silent | Greatest | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 100% | < 1% | < 1% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 100% | < 1% | < 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 100% | < 1% | < 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 100% | < 1% | < 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | < 1% | < 1% | < 1% | 100% | < 1% | < 1% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by generational group
Gender composition among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who are…
Belief in God | Men | Women | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 44% | 56% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 54% | 46% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 59% | 41% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 67% | 33% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 61% | 39% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by gender
Racial and ethnic composition among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who identify as…
Belief in God | White | Black | Asian | Latino | Other/Mixed | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 70% | 14% | 2% | 10% | 4% | 6,795 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 73% | 5% | 3% | 17% | 3% | 1,909 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 77% | 6% | 5% | 10% | 2% | 437 |
Do not believe in God | 87% | 3% | 3% | 5% | 2% | 719 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 86% | 5% | 4% | 3% | 2% | 211 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by race/ethnicity
Immigrant status among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who are…
Belief in God | Immigrants | Second generation | Third generation or higher | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 10% | 6% | 84% | 6,855 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 19% | 6% | 74% | 1,909 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 19% | 9% | 72% | 439 |
Do not believe in God | 9% | 10% | 81% | 718 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 10% | 6% | 84% | 216 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by immigrant status
Income distribution among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who have a household income of…
Belief in God | Less than $30,000 | $30,000-$49,999 | $50,000-$99,999 | $100,000 or more | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 34% | 19% | 28% | 19% | 6,140 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 28% | 20% | 26% | 26% | 1,743 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 24% | 13% | 31% | 32% | 406 |
Do not believe in God | 17% | 13% | 31% | 39% | 677 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 18% | 15% | 22% | 44% | 175 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by household income
Educational distribution among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who have completed…
Belief in God | High school or less | Some college | College | Post-graduate degree | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 44% | 31% | 15% | 9% | 6,895 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 41% | 28% | 18% | 13% | 1,919 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 35% | 23% | 23% | 19% | 441 |
Do not believe in God | 27% | 25% | 25% | 23% | 721 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 30% | 23% | 25% | 22% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by educational group
Marital status among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who are…
Belief in God | Married | Living with a partner | Divorced/separated | Widowed | Never married | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 60% | 4% | 21% | 6% | 9% | 6,894 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 58% | 7% | 19% | 5% | 11% | 1,919 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 63% | 7% | 15% | 4% | 11% | 439 |
Do not believe in God | 61% | 8% | 18% | 2% | 11% | 722 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 65% | 5% | 15% | 2% | 13% | 214 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by marital status
Parent of children under 18 among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who are…
Belief in God | Parents | Non-parents | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 15% | 85% | 6,906 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 18% | 82% | 1,920 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 11% | 89% | 441 |
Do not believe in God | 14% | 86% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 15% | 85% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by parental status
Beliefs✭and✭Practices
Importance of religion in one's life among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who say religion is…
Belief in God | Very important | Somewhat important | Not too important | Not at all important | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 75% | 18% | 3% | 2% | 1% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 29% | 47% | 16% | 7% | < 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 12% | 32% | 36% | 19% | 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 3% | 7% | 23% | 66% | 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 9% | 23% | 30% | 33% | 5% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by importance of religion
Attendance at religious services among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who attend religious services…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month/a few times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 48% | 33% | 18% | < 1% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 19% | 42% | 39% | < 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 11% | 33% | 56% | < 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 2% | 17% | 81% | < 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 6% | 26% | 61% | 7% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by religious attendance
Frequency of prayer among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who pray…
Belief in God | At least daily | Weekly | Monthly | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 76% | 15% | 3% | 5% | 1% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 36% | 24% | 12% | 27% | 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 20% | 15% | 11% | 53% | < 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 3% | 2% | 2% | 93% | < 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 13% | 4% | 5% | 67% | 10% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by frequency of prayer
Frequency of participation in prayer, scripture study or religious education groups among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who attend prayer group…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 36% | 10% | 9% | 45% | < 1% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 11% | 6% | 7% | 77% | < 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 5% | 5% | 4% | 85% | < 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 1% | 1% | 1% | 97% | < 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 4% | 4% | 3% | 85% | 3% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by attendance at prayer groups
Frequency of meditation among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who meditate…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 51% | 7% | 3% | 37% | 2% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 33% | 10% | 5% | 51% | 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 30% | 10% | 6% | 54% | < 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 20% | 7% | 4% | 68% | < 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 30% | 12% | 4% | 49% | 6% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by frequency of meditation
Frequency of feeling spiritual peace and wellbeing among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who feel a sense of spiritual peace and wellbeing…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 73% | 12% | 7% | 8% | 1% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 44% | 17% | 15% | 23% | 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 34% | 16% | 14% | 35% | 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 29% | 13% | 9% | 46% | 3% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 36% | 13% | 12% | 30% | 8% | 218 |
Frequency of feeling wonder about the universe among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who feel a sense of wonder about the universe…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 50% | 14% | 11% | 24% | 1% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 41% | 19% | 17% | 22% | 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 44% | 15% | 13% | 27% | 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 46% | 14% | 14% | 25% | 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 48% | 14% | 12% | 23% | 2% | 218 |
Sources of guidance on right and wrong among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who say they look to…most for guidance on right and wrong
Belief in God | Religion | Philosophy/reason | Common sense | Science | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 49% | 6% | 38% | 4% | 2% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 16% | 13% | 57% | 12% | 3% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 9% | 17% | 56% | 16% | 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 2% | 20% | 55% | 22% | 2% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 5% | 14% | 56% | 16% | 9% | 218 |
Belief in absolute standards for right and wrong among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who say…
Belief in God | There are clear standards for what is right and wrong | Right or wrong depends on the situation | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 44% | 54% | 2% | 1% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 28% | 69% | 2% | 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 26% | 72% | 2% | 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 18% | 80% | 1% | 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 20% | 73% | 3% | 4% | 218 |
Frequency of reading scripture among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who read scripture…
Belief in God | At least once a week | Once or twice a month | Several times a year | Seldom/never | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 51% | 11% | 8% | 29% | 1% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 15% | 9% | 10% | 66% | < 1% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 8% | 8% | 5% | 79% | < 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 2% | 2% | 3% | 93% | < 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 8% | 3% | 9% | 75% | 4% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by frequency of reading scripture
Interpreting scripture among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who say the holy scripture is…
Belief in God | Word of God; should be taken literally | Word of God; not everything taken literally | Word of God; other/don't know | Not the word of God | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 46% | 29% | 4% | 14% | 7% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 16% | 26% | 2% | 49% | 8% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 6% | 11% | < 1% | 78% | 5% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 1% | 2% | < 1% | 92% | 4% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 1% | 5% | 2% | 72% | 20% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by interpretation of scripture
Belief in Heaven among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who …in heaven
Belief in God | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 86% | 8% | 6% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 68% | 22% | 10% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 34% | 50% | 16% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 4% | 93% | 4% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 15% | 48% | 37% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by belief in heaven
Belief in Hell among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who …in hell
Belief in God | Believe | Don't believe | Other/don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 71% | 20% | 8% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 47% | 43% | 10% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 22% | 67% | 11% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 3% | 94% | 3% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 12% | 60% | 28% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by belief in hell
Social✭and✭Political✭Views
Party affiliation among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who identify as…
Belief in God | Republican/lean Rep. | No lean | Democrat/lean Dem. | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 44% | 15% | 41% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 34% | 16% | 50% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 21% | 15% | 64% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 21% | 16% | 63% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 25% | 28% | 47% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by political party
Political ideology among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who are…
Belief in God | Conservative | Moderate | Liberal | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 47% | 30% | 17% | 5% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 30% | 39% | 27% | 4% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 22% | 32% | 40% | 7% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 15% | 29% | 51% | 5% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 19% | 37% | 34% | 11% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by political ideology
Views about size of government among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who would rather have…
Belief in God | Smaller government; fewer services | Bigger government; more services | Depends | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 57% | 36% | 3% | 3% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 52% | 41% | 3% | 4% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 42% | 48% | 5% | 4% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 43% | 50% | 4% | 3% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 51% | 34% | 7% | 8% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by views about size of government
Views about government aid to the poor among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who say government aid to the poor…
Belief in God | Does more harm than good | Does more good than harm | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 49% | 45% | 4% | 2% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 43% | 52% | 3% | 2% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 33% | 62% | 3% | 2% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 26% | 68% | 5% | 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 35% | 53% | 8% | 5% | 218 |
Views about abortion among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who say abortion should be…
Belief in God | Legal in all/most cases | Illegal in all/most cases | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 44% | 51% | 5% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 67% | 29% | 4% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 80% | 17% | 2% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 89% | 8% | 3% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 80% | 12% | 8% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by views about abortion
Views about homosexuality among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who say homosexuality…
Belief in God | Should be accepted | Should be discouraged | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 48% | 43% | 5% | 4% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 75% | 18% | 4% | 3% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 81% | 14% | 3% | 2% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 85% | 11% | 3% | 2% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 74% | 12% | 6% | 8% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by views about homosexuality
Views about same-sex marriage among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who …same-sex marriage
Belief in God | Strongly favor/favor | Oppose/strongly oppose | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 37% | 55% | 8% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 63% | 28% | 8% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 76% | 19% | 5% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 85% | 11% | 4% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 70% | 16% | 13% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by views about same-sex marriage
Views about environmental regulation among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who say…
Belief in God | Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy | Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost | Neither/both equally | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 46% | 49% | 2% | 3% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 36% | 60% | 2% | 3% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 29% | 68% | 3% | < 1% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 23% | 75% | 1% | 1% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 24% | 67% | 4% | 6% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by views about environmental protection
Views about human evolution among 50-64 year olds by belief in God
% of 50-64 year olds who say humans…
Belief in God | Evolved; due to natural processes | Evolved; due to God's design | Evolved; don't know how | Always existed in present form | Don't know | Sample size |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Believe in God; absolutely certain | 14% | 31% | 3% | 48% | 4% | 6,919 |
Believe in God; fairly certain | 45% | 26% | 6% | 19% | 4% | 1,925 |
Believe in God; not too/not at all certain | 64% | 9% | 7% | 18% | 2% | 442 |
Do not believe in God | 87% | 4% | 1% | 6% | 2% | 724 |
Other/don't know if they believe in God | 63% | 8% | 13% | 11% | 5% | 218 |
Switch Display To: belief in God among 50-64 year olds by views about human evolution