Southern Baptist Convention Reports Shift Toward Adult Baptisms

The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has recorded its fifth consecutive year of growth in total baptisms, reaching 263,075 in 2025, the highest figure since 2016. Despite this overall increase, the denomination has simultaneously reached its lowest membership level in 50 years. Data from the 2025 Annual Church Profile indicates a significant demographic shift in who is being baptized, with adults aged 30 and older now representing the largest share at 33%.

Lifeway Research executive director Scott McConnell noted that the majority of those baptized in the SBC are now 18 or older, a reversal from 1971 when minors accounted for two-thirds of baptisms. While baptisms among children aged 11 and younger have declined from 30% in 2022 to 22% in 2025, the share of young adults aged 18 to 29 has risen to 20%. McConnell attributed the decline in younger baptisms to broader demographic trends, noting that there are fewer children in both local communities and church congregations to reach with the gospel.