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You may have heard that America is a Christian nation. Whether it's true or not, it demonstrates that Christianity has been part of American culture since the beginning. In fact, some of the first settlers were Puritans looking to establish base away from the Church of England. There were also Catholics and Quakers looking to escape persecution. Many of the colonies had state churches at one point. Fast forwarding a couple centuries, the fifties were marked not only by an economic boom but also by a rise of conservatism. The vast majority of Americans were Protestant Christian and this remained true up into the 90s.
If Gallup and Pew Research are anything to go by, Protestantism in the US is in decline, primarily felt among Mainline Protestants. Catholicism has been able to maintain its percentage of around 23%, perhaps having something to do with immigration from Latin America, a predominantly Catholic region. Mormons have maintained their percentage at around 1%, perhaps because of their higher fertility rates or maybe they're just that good at keeping people from leaving or good at attracting new members. In 2010, roughly half of Americans identified as Protestants and in 2018, it was 43%. Since 2009, even the Catholics have seen a bit of decline, going down to 20%. The lack of religion has seen a major increase since the 90s, going from 7% to 16% in 2009 and 23% in 2018.
Newer generations are less religious than older generations, indicating a shift away from religion. In fact, 18-29-year-olds are just as likely to not hold any religious affiliation as they are to be Protestant. Furthermore, older generations have gradually become less religious.
This decline is happening in every region of the US but something interesting is happening in this regard. You see, the Southeastern portion of the US has been a historically religious part of the country (in fact, this region is sometimes referred to as the bible belt). From 2009 to 2018, Christianity fell from 82% to 70% (a fall of 12 points) whereas in the Midwest, it was from 77% to 67% (a fall of 10 points). In the south, the unaffiliated rose from 13% to 23% (a rise of 10 points) as opposed to from 18% to 25% like the midwest. In other words, the midwest may one day be more religious than the south. In contrast to the south, the western US has been a bit less religious with 69% being Christian and 21% being unaffiliated in 2009. Although the west became even less religious, the northeast seems to be challenging the west for the least religious region in the US. In 2009, 74% of northeasterners were Christian and 16% were unaffiliated but in 2018, 59% were Christian and 28% were unaffiliated. This is contrasted with the west which was 60% Christian and 32% unaffiliated.
Another thing that's happening is the emergence of other religions (most likely due to immigration from certain regions). In the northeast, other religions went up from 8% to 11% from 2009 to 2018.
In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace | Pew Research Center
If the U.S. had 100 people: Charting Americans' religious affiliations | Pew Research Center
How America Lost Its Religion - The Atlantic
America's Changing Religious Landscape | Pew Research Center
If Gallup and Pew Research are anything to go by, Protestantism in the US is in decline, primarily felt among Mainline Protestants. Catholicism has been able to maintain its percentage of around 23%, perhaps having something to do with immigration from Latin America, a predominantly Catholic region. Mormons have maintained their percentage at around 1%, perhaps because of their higher fertility rates or maybe they're just that good at keeping people from leaving or good at attracting new members. In 2010, roughly half of Americans identified as Protestants and in 2018, it was 43%. Since 2009, even the Catholics have seen a bit of decline, going down to 20%. The lack of religion has seen a major increase since the 90s, going from 7% to 16% in 2009 and 23% in 2018.
Newer generations are less religious than older generations, indicating a shift away from religion. In fact, 18-29-year-olds are just as likely to not hold any religious affiliation as they are to be Protestant. Furthermore, older generations have gradually become less religious.
This decline is happening in every region of the US but something interesting is happening in this regard. You see, the Southeastern portion of the US has been a historically religious part of the country (in fact, this region is sometimes referred to as the bible belt). From 2009 to 2018, Christianity fell from 82% to 70% (a fall of 12 points) whereas in the Midwest, it was from 77% to 67% (a fall of 10 points). In the south, the unaffiliated rose from 13% to 23% (a rise of 10 points) as opposed to from 18% to 25% like the midwest. In other words, the midwest may one day be more religious than the south. In contrast to the south, the western US has been a bit less religious with 69% being Christian and 21% being unaffiliated in 2009. Although the west became even less religious, the northeast seems to be challenging the west for the least religious region in the US. In 2009, 74% of northeasterners were Christian and 16% were unaffiliated but in 2018, 59% were Christian and 28% were unaffiliated. This is contrasted with the west which was 60% Christian and 32% unaffiliated.
Another thing that's happening is the emergence of other religions (most likely due to immigration from certain regions). In the northeast, other religions went up from 8% to 11% from 2009 to 2018.
In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace | Pew Research Center
If the U.S. had 100 people: Charting Americans' religious affiliations | Pew Research Center
How America Lost Its Religion - The Atlantic
America's Changing Religious Landscape | Pew Research Center
