Has the Rise of Religious “Nones” in America Slowed?
Updated November 7, 2026.
For years, pastors have heard that more Americans are stepping away from religious affiliation. That long-term change is real. Recent surveys also give us a reason to be more careful with the story we tell: the growth of the religiously unaffiliated has slowed, at least for now.
A plateau does not tell us that everyone is returning to church or that the future is settled. It gives us a clearer description of the present. For churches serving single adults and young adults, that should lead to patient listening, honest teaching, and attention to the people already in our communities.
What does “religiously unaffiliated” mean?
Researchers often use “religious nones” for people who identify as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.” Those answers describe religious identification. They do not tell us everything about a person’s beliefs, questions, experiences with church, or willingness to have a spiritual conversation.
That distinction matters when we meet someone. A survey category can help us understand a population; it cannot take the place of learning a neighbor’s story.
What recent surveys show
Pew Research Center’s 2023–24 Religious Landscape Study, published in February 2025, found that 29% of U.S. adults were religiously unaffiliated. Pew described recent stability after a long period of growth in that share.
A separate study, the 2025 PRRI Census of American Religion, published April 15, 2026, found 28% of Americans were religiously unaffiliated, similar to 2024. PRRI’s estimate was 21% in 2013. Its findings therefore show both a substantial longer-term increase and little change in the most recent year.
These are separate surveys with different methods. The difference between Pew’s 29% and PRRI’s 28% should not be presented as a one-point decline. Read the trend within each study rather than joining the numbers into a single timeline.
Pew added another perspective in an October 28, 2026 analysis following the same respondents from 2020 to 2025. It found that 87% remained on the same side of the affiliated-versus-unaffiliated distinction. About 6% moved in each direction. This measure does not mean that every belief or denominational identity remained unchanged.
What about young adults?
Young adults remain less religiously affiliated than older adults in these studies. PRRI found that 39% of adults ages 18–29 were unaffiliated in 2025, compared with 38% in 2024, which it described as little change. That does not support assuming every young adult has abandoned faith.
It also does not establish a nationwide revival. In its December 2025 analysis of religious trends, Pew found broad stability since 2020 and cautioned against treating the habits of the youngest adults as proof of a lasting reversal. A congregation can experience encouraging growth while national patterns remain comparatively steady.
Our article on young adult church attendance considers another distinction: how frequently existing churchgoers attend is different from how many people in an entire age group attend. Both questions matter, but they answer different things.
Let the research improve the conversation
We should be cautious about explaining a plateau with one appealing theory. Cultural pressure, family background, personal convictions, and experiences with institutions may all matter in someone’s story. The figures above do not establish that people have finished “sorting” themselves or that a single cultural cause explains the change.
For ministry leaders, the next step is personal. Ask a young adult what they believe, what they find difficult about church, and what would help them explore Scripture. Leave room for an answer that challenges your assumptions. Our guide to what young adults look for in a church offers practical ways to begin.
Single adults should have a place in that conversation without being treated as unfinished families. Jesus lived His earthly life unmarried, and Paul speaks positively about singleness in 1 Corinthians 7. Following Christ is the center of Christian life in every marital circumstance.
A useful response for the local church
Begin with a clear invitation. Help someone know where to go, who will meet them, and what the gathering involves. A meal or a small group gives people time to ask questions that will never surface during a rushed greeting. Our Young Adults 18+ resources can help leaders connect research with those ordinary decisions.
Then build a pattern of discipleship. Read a passage together, listen to questions, pray, and follow up. Embrace the Table provides a Bible-study resource for single adults, while our guide to overcoming fear in disciple-making encourages leaders to begin conversations they may have been avoiding.
Use our single adult statistics page when preparing for your team, and keep the original source and year beside any number you share. Research can sharpen our attention. The work still happens as we learn names, open Scripture, and walk with people.
Questions about religious “nones”
Has the growth of religious nones stopped?
Recent Pew and PRRI findings show a period of relative stability after years of growth. They do not establish that the share will remain stable indefinitely. Be specific about the survey and years you are discussing.
Does unaffiliated mean atheist?
No. The category includes atheists, agnostics, and people who describe their religion as “nothing in particular.” Those groups and the people within them do not all hold the same beliefs.
Does a plateau mean church attendance is increasing?
No. Religious identification and attendance are different measures. A stable affiliation figure does not establish that more people are attending services or that existing churchgoers attend more often.
How should a small church use this research?
Use it to question assumptions and prepare thoughtful conversations. Listen to local people, make invitations clear, and offer sustained relationships centered on Scripture. National figures can inform that work without dictating what every congregation will experience.
