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What's changed in religion in America and worldwide since 2024, as of October 2026?
Research question: How have religious affiliation and religious practice levels changed in the United States and globally since 2024, according to the most recent surveys from Pew Research Center, Gallup, and the Association of Religion Data Archives, and what trends are emerging as of October 2026?
The records show that Pew's most recent Religious Landscape Study reports that the decline in U.S. Christian affiliation has slowed and may have leveled off 4. In 2025, 57% of Americans said they seldom or never attend religious services, while 31% attended weekly or nearly weekly 2, and Gallup data show a 17-point drop in U.S. religiosity over the past decade, one of the largest measured in its World Poll 10. Among young men, the share saying religion is very important rose from 28% in 2022-2023 to 42% in 2024-2025 3, even though their reported affiliation barely changed 7. A Pew analysis published April 23, 2026 found that Catholicism had a net loss from religious switching in 21 of the 24 countries studied, with Hungary the only country where more people joined than left 15. In Latin America, unaffiliated adults now outnumber Protestants in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico 20, yet belief in God remains near nine in ten adults in each surveyed country 25.
Checked 2026-10-20. Only documented and supported facts are used.
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[1] supported
Catholicism had a net loss from religious switching in 21 of the 24 countries Pew analyzed.
""Overall, more people left Catholicism than joined it in 21 of the 24 countries we analyzed," Pew said."Pew: In US and other countries, Catholicism loses more members than it ...
[2] supported
In 2025, 57% of Americans on average said they seldom or never attend religious services, while 31% attended weekly or nearly weekly.
"In 2025, 57% of Americans on average said they seldom or never attend, and 31% reported attending weekly or nearly weekly."Americans' Religious Engagement Holds at Lower Levels
[3] supported
Young men in the U.S. rose sharply in saying religion is very important to them, from 28% in 2022-2023 to 42% in 2024-2025.
"Gallup’s latest data, from 2024-2025, show 42% of young men saying religion is very important to them, up sharply from 28% in 2022-2023."Rise in Young Men's Religiosity Realigns Gender Gaps
[4] supported
Pew's most recent Religious Landscape Study reports a trend of decline in Christian affiliation in the U.S. that has slowed and may have leveled off.
"Decline of Christianity in the U.S. Has Slowed, May Have Leveled Off"Religious Landscape Study (RLS) | Pew Research Center
[5] supported
Hungary was the only surveyed country where more people joined Catholicism than left it.
"Hungary ranked as "the only country surveyed where more people joined (5%) than left the church (2%)," added Pew."Pew: In US and other countries, Catholicism loses more members than it ...
[6] supported
Much of the decline in U.S. religious affiliation over the past two decades is attributed to generational change, as less religious younger adults replace older generations.
"Much of the drop in religious affiliation in the U.S. during the past two decades can be attributed to generational change"Americans' Religious Engagement Holds at Lower Levels
[7] supported
The share of young men who report a specific religious affiliation barely changed between 2022-2023 and 2024-2025.
"In 2024-2025, 63% of young men report a specific religious affiliation (such as Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or another religion), statistically unchanged from the 61% recorded in 2022-2023."Rise in Young Men's Religiosity Realigns Gender Gaps
[8] supported
According to the 2023-24 study, a share of U.S. adults identify as Christians.
"of U.S. adults identify as Christians."Religious Landscape Study (RLS) | Pew Research Center
[9] supported
Italy showed a steep net loss for Catholicism: 22% of adults are former Catholics, while only 1% joined from another or no religion.
"The center cited Italy, where 22% are former Catholics, but just 1% who were not raised Catholic became so — "a net loss of 21 percentage points," said Pew."Pew: In US and other countries, Catholicism loses more members than it ...
[10] supported
The 17-percentage-point drop in U.S. religiosity over the past decade is among the largest declines measured in the Gallup World Poll.
"The 17-percentage-point drop in U.S. religiosity over the past decade is among the largest declines measured in the Gallup World Poll."Americans' Religious Engagement Holds at Lower Levels
[11] supported
Overall American religiosity remains near the lowest levels in Gallup's long-term trends, with young men an emerging exception.
"The religiosity of Americans as a whole remains at a low ebb , with the importance of religion to people, their self-reported attendance and their identification with a religion all holding at or near the lowest levels in Gallup’s long-term trends. Yet young men appear to be an emerging exception to the rule."Rise in Young Men's Religiosity Realigns Gender Gaps
[12] supported
According to the 2023-24 study, a share of U.S. adults identify as religiously unaffiliated.
"of U.S. adults identify as religiously unaffiliated."Religious Landscape Study (RLS) | Pew Research Center
[13] supported
In the U.S., only 17% of adults describe themselves as Catholic, compared with 30% who were raised Catholic.
"In the U.S., less than one third (30%) are raised Catholic, and only 17% of adults describe themselves as Catholic."Pew: In US and other countries, Catholicism loses more members than it ...
[14] supported
U.S. religiosity fell 17 percentage points over the past decade, one of the largest declines measured in the Gallup World Poll.
"The 17-percentage-point drop in U.S. religiosity over the past decade is among the largest declines measured in the Gallup World Poll."Rise in Young Men's Religiosity Realigns Gender Gaps
[15] supported
In the U.S., 14% of people raised Protestant left the faith, while 8% of those not raised Protestant joined it.
"In the U.S., 14% of those saying they were raised Protestant left the faith, with 8% who had not been raised as such joining."Pew: In US and other countries, Catholicism loses more members than it ...
[16] supported
Over the last decade, the share of Catholics fell by at least 9 percentage points in each of the six surveyed Latin American countries, while the share of unaffiliated adults rose by 7 points or more.
"Sin embargo, en la última década, la proporción de católicos ha disminuido al menos 9 puntos porcentuales en cada uno de esos países. Mientras tanto, el porcentaje de adultos no afiliados aumentó en 7 puntos porcentuales o más, según la encuesta."Hay menos católicos y más sin afiliación religiosa en América Latina: encuesta Pew - LA NACION
[17] supported
In 2024, about half of adults in Brazil and Chile identify as Catholic (46% in each country), far below the Catholic majorities of a decade earlier.
"aproximadamente la mitad de brasileños y chilenos se identifican como católicos (46% de cada país en 2024)"El catolicismo ha perdido fieles en América Latina durante ...
[18] supported
Across six Latin American countries, the share of Catholics fell by nine percentage points or more over the past decade, while the unaffiliated population grew significantly, according to a Pew Research Center survey.
"La proporción de católicos en América Latina cayó nueve puntos porcentuales o más en la última década en seis de los países más poblados de la región, mientras creció de forma significativa el número de adultos que se declaran sin afiliación religiosa, según una encuesta divulgada este miércoles por el Pew Research Center."Catolicismo pierde peso en Latinoamérica tras una década de caída sostenida, dice sondeo • Actualidad • Forbes México
[19] supported
Between roughly 2013-2014 and 2024, the share of people who identify as Catholic fell by 9% to 19% in six Latin American countries, with the largest drop in Colombia.
"En diez años, el número de personas que se declaran católicas ha disminuido un 19 % en Colombia, un 18 % en Chile, un 15 % en Brasil, un 14 % en México, un 13 % en Argentina y un 9 % en Perú."América Latina: disminuyen los católicos, crece el individualismo religioso y se estaca el ascenso de los neoevangélicos - ADN Celam
[20] supported
Unaffiliated adults now outnumber Protestants in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.
"“De hecho, ahora hay más adultos no afiliados religiosamente que protestantes en Argentina, Chile, Colombia y México”, afirmó Lesage."Hay menos católicos y más sin afiliación religiosa en América Latina: encuesta Pew - LA NACION
[21] supported
Unaffiliated adults now outnumber Protestants in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Mexico.
"Ahora hay más adultos sin afiliación religiosa que protestantes en Argentina, Chile, Colombia y México."El catolicismo ha perdido fieles en América Latina durante ...
[22] supported
In the six surveyed countries, the share of adults with no religious affiliation rose by seven percentage points or more compared with a decade earlier, and in several cases it now exceeds the number of Protestants.
"En los seis países analizados, la proporción de adultos sin afiliación religiosa aumentó siete puntos porcentuales o más en comparación con hace una década, y en varios casos ya supera al número de protestantes."Catolicismo pierde peso en Latinoamérica tras una década de caída sostenida, dice sondeo • Actualidad • Forbes México
[23] supported
Despite the shift in affiliation, Latin Americans remain highly religious, with nearly 9 in 10 adults in each country saying they believe in God.
"Cerca de 9 de cada 10 o más adultos encuestados en cada país dicen creer en Dios."Hay menos católicos y más sin afiliación religiosa en América Latina: encuesta Pew - LA NACION
[24] supported
Protestant identification in Brazil rose only slightly, from 26% in 2013-2014 to 29% in 2024, suggesting Protestantism has been relatively stable across the region.
"el 29% de los adultos ahora se identifican como protestantes de todo tipo, en comparación con el 26% en 2013 y 2014."El catolicismo ha perdido fieles en América Latina durante ...
[25] supported
Belief in God remained close to nine in ten adults in each surveyed country, similar to the level recorded a decade earlier, and most people with no religious affiliation still say they believe in God.
"Cerca de nueve de cada diez adultos o más en cada país encuestado afirmaron creer en Dios, una proporción similar a la registrada hace diez años."Catolicismo pierde peso en Latinoamérica tras una década de caída sostenida, dice sondeo • Actualidad • Forbes México
[26] supported
Protestant affiliation has remained relatively stable across Latin America, rising in Brazil from 26% to 29% of adults.
"En Brasil —que tiene el mayor porcentaje de protestantes de los seis países encuestados— el 29% de los adultos ahora se identifican como protestantes, en comparación con el 26% en el periodo 2013-2014."Hay menos católicos y más sin afiliación religiosa en América Latina: encuesta Pew - LA NACION
[27] supported
Among religiously unaffiliated Latin Americans, belief in God ranges from 62% in Argentina to 92% in Brazil, similar to Christians in Europe.
"que creen en Dios, y que van desde el 62% en Argentina hasta el 92% en Brasil."El catolicismo ha perdido fieles en América Latina durante ...
[28] supported
A majority of adults in Brazil, Colombia and Peru say they pray at least once a day.
"la mayoría de los adultos en Brasil, Colombia y Perú afirmó rezar al menos una vez al día."Catolicismo pierde peso en Latinoamérica tras una década de caída sostenida, dice sondeo • Actualidad • Forbes México
[29] supported
The Pew survey of six Latin American countries interviewed 6,234 adults between 22 January and 27 April 2024.
"En la encuesta se entrevistó a 6.234 adultos latinoamericanos del 22 de enero al 27 de abril de 2024."Hay menos católicos y más sin afiliación religiosa en América Latina: encuesta Pew - LA NACION
[30] supported
According to Latinobarómetro, the Protestant share in Latin America rose to 23% in 2023 and then fell to 19% in 2024, suggesting the neo-Pentecostal growth wave has weakened.
"Los protestantes, gracias al auge de los grupos neogospelistas, han alcanzado, según esta encuesta, el 23 % en 2023, para luego descender al 19 % en 2024"América Latina: disminuyen los católicos, crece el individualismo religioso y se estaca el ascenso de los neoevangélicos - ADN Celam
[31] supported
The share of Protestants who are Pentecostal has declined over the last decade as other Protestant traditions have grown.
"el porcentaje de protestantes que son pentecostales ha disminuido en la última década a medida que otras tradiciones han crecido."El catolicismo ha perdido fieles en América Latina durante ...
[32] supported
The Pew survey was conducted in spring 2024 and compares its results on religious affiliation and belief in God with a similar study from 2013-2014.
"La encuesta, realizada en la primavera de 2024, permite comparar las respuestas sobre afiliación religiosa y creencias en Dios con las de un estudio similar efectuado en 2013-2014."Catolicismo pierde peso en Latinoamérica tras una década de caída sostenida, dice sondeo • Actualidad • Forbes México
[33] supported
From 1973 to 1998, the mainline share of 25–74-year-old Protestants fell from 57% to 47%.
"havelostabout10percentagepointsoftheirrelativeshareof25–74-year-old Protestants—from 57% in 1973 to 47% in 1998"The Demographic Imperative in Religious Change in the United States (2001)