Surge of Americans Identifying as Religiously Unaffiliated: PRRI Census Data Analysis

The latest census of religious diversity in the U.S. reveals a significant shift in attitudes toward religion, with older Millennials, younger Gen Xers, and Americans living in the West leading the surge of those identifying as “religiously unaffiliated.”

According to data from the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute, the percentage of religiously unaffiliated Americans has increased from 21% to 27% over the past decade. The largest jumps in religious disaffiliation were seen among Americans ages 30 to 49, with a nearly 48% increase in the number of unaffiliated individuals in this age group.

The decline in religious affiliation is not limited to specific age groups, as every demographic has seen decreases in religious identification. Even Baby Boomers and older Americans, traditionally the most religious generations, have seen an increase in the number of religiously unaffiliated individuals.

The data also show a decline in the percentage of Americans identifying as white Christians, from 57% to 41% since 2006. This shift in religious demographics could have implications for public policy, as white Christians continue to be overrepresented in Congress, particularly among Republicans.

The concentration of religiously unaffiliated Americans is primarily in the western United States, with counties in states like Washington and Colorado showing some of the highest percentages of unaffiliated residents. On the other hand, white evangelical Protestants are mainly concentrated in the South and Midwest.

The changing religious landscape in America has implications for political parties, with only 12% of Republicans identifying as religiously unaffiliated compared to 33% of Democrats. Analysts suggest that the Republican Party’s demographic makeup may need to evolve to reflect the changing religious and racial composition of the country.

Overall, the data from the American Values Atlas highlight a significant shift in religious identification in the U.S., with implications for politics, public policy, and social dynamics.