Pew Research Center Reports Religious Identification Remains Steady in U.S.

New data from the Pew Research Center indicates that religious identification and practice in the United States have stabilized following years of decline. According to the report, 70% of Americans identified with a religion in 2026, a figure nearly identical to the 71% reported in 2020. Other metrics, including daily prayer and the perceived importance of religion, also showed minimal change over the six-year period.

Regarding attendance, 34% of respondents reported attending religious services in person within the last month, while 45% participated through in-person, online, or televised means. These figures represent a shift from 2020, when pandemic-related closures limited in-person attendance to 13%.

Researchers noted mixed trends among young adults. While those aged 18 to 22 reported relatively high rates of service attendance, the demographic aged 23 to 26 currently ranks as the least religious group across several measures. Despite these variations, the study suggests that overall religious engagement has reached a period of consistency after a decade of significant shifts.