Barna Report Finds Male Teenagers Now Outnumber Females in Youth Groups

A new report from Barna and Christ In Youth indicates a shift in U.S. church demographics, with male teenagers now outnumbering females in youth group attendance. According to the study, which surveyed 1,500 teenagers aged 13 to 18, 63% of self-identified Christian males reported attending a youth group in the last three months, compared to 52% of females. This trend marks a departure from historical patterns where female participation in church activities typically exceeded that of males.

The data further reveals that younger teenagers, aged 13 to 15, are more likely to attend youth groups than those aged 16 to 18. Participation rates also vary by ethnicity, with white teenagers reporting the highest attendance at 60%, followed by Hispanic, Asian, and Black teenagers. Barna researchers noted that these findings align with broader trends showing a rise in religious engagement among young men, with recent Gallup data suggesting that political identity may be a contributing factor to these shifting attendance patterns.