Religiously unaffiliated people

Regional composition

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29% of U.S. adults identify as religiously unaffiliated adults.

21% of this group lives in the Midwest, 18% live in the Northeast, 33% live in the South and 28% live in the West.

28% are between the ages of 18 and 29, 41% are ages 30 to 49, 18% are ages 50 to 65 and 12% are 65 and older.

Tab Contents

Demographics

Beliefs & practices

Social & political views


Party affiliation among religiously unaffiliated adults*
% of religiously unaffiliated adults who identify as …
Party affiliation among religiously unaffiliated adults (2023-24)
% of religiously unaffiliated adults who identify as …
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Survey yearRep/ lean RepNo leanDem/ lean DemUnweighted sample sizeMargin of error
2023-24*31%7%62%10,729±1.4 pct. pts.
2014*23%22%54%7,556±1.4 pct. pts.
2007*23%23%55%5,048±1.5 pct. pts.
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[FIRST] In politics today, do you consider yourself a … Republican; Democrat; Independent; something else. [THEN] As of today do you lean more to … the Republican Party; the Democratic Party.
[This is the question asked in the web version of the 2023-24 RLS. For more details, including how the question was asked in the paper/telephone versions and in the prior studies (if available), refer to the topline and the web/phone or paper questionnaires.]

* The 2023-24 RLS was conducted mainly online and on paper, while the earlier surveys were done by telephone. Because of this “mode shift,” the results of the 2023-24 survey should not be compared with the earlier results in this chart/table. Refer to Appendix A for details.
Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. For sample sizes and margins of error, go to the “Table” tab above.
Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding.
Note: Figures may not sum to 100% due to rounding. Data from 2023-24. U.S. population shown for comparison. Refer to the accompanying link for sample sizes and margins of error.
Source: Religious Landscape Study of U.S. adults conducted July 17, 2023-March 4, 2024. Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Study. Pew Research Center’s 2007 Religious Landscape Study.
Source: Religious Landscape Study of U.S. adults conducted July 17, 2023-March 4, 2024.
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