Church research, charted
Every chart here is built from published third-party research and links back to its source. Hover for the numbers, or open the data table. MSTRD's own figures publish with the first study in Q1 2026.
The Christian majority is shrinking; the “nones” are rising
Share of US adults by religious identity. Christian identification is down 16 points since 2007; the religiously unaffiliated have nearly doubled.
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| 2007 | 2014 | 2023–24 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian | 78% | 71% | 62% |
| Unaffiliated | 16% | 23% | 29% |
How US Protestant churches' attendance changed since 2023
Reported by pastors. A swing of less than 4% counts as flat.
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| Value (%) | |
|---|---|
| Grew 4% or more | 54% |
| Held roughly flat | 30% |
| Declined 4% or more | 16% |
Which traditions' churches are growing
Share of churches whose attendance grew 4% or more since 2023, by denominational family.
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| Value (%) | |
|---|---|
| Pentecostal | 63% |
| Baptist | 57% |
| Non-denominational | 57% |
| Lutheran | 37% |
| Methodist | 26% |
Fewer of a church's newcomers were previously unchurched
Average share of a church's new attendees over the prior two years who had not been attending anywhere.
Featured in: Field notes: the front door is quieter
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| Value (%) | |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 27% |
| 2025 | 20% |
Religious young people volunteer more
Share of Americans aged 13–25 who volunteered at least once in the past year, by how religious they are.
Source: Springtide Research Institute · 2025 Survey of Young People and Organization Involvement · n = 2,977
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| Value (%) | |
|---|---|
| Very religious | 77% |
| Religiously affiliated | 71% |
| Religiously unaffiliated | 54% |
| Not at all religious | 53% |
Why young people say they volunteer
Selected reasons among Americans aged 13–25 who volunteered in the past year. More than one reason allowed.
Source: Springtide Research Institute · 2025 Survey of Young People and Organization Involvement · n = 2,977
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| Value (%) | |
|---|---|
| I enjoy it | 46% |
| It feels good to help | 42% |
| Building a résumé | 31% |
| Time with friends | 31% |
| Required by school | 24% |