Christian Identity in the U.S. Holds Steady after Years of Decline, Pew Finds

Christianity in America may no longer be in decline, according to a new Pew Research Center survey that also reveals hopeful signs for the future of the faith across the nation. Pew’s latest Religious Landscape Studies survey shows that 62 percent of Americans identify as Christian, a number that is slightly more than 2022 (60) and just one point lower than 2020 (64). The stability is a welcome sign for the nation’s church leaders, who have watched Christian identity in Pew surveys fall from 78 percent in 2007, to 71 percent in 2014 and then roughly another 10 points to its present level.  

“After many years of steady decline, the share of Americans who identify as Christians shows signs of leveling off,” a report summary said.

The Religious Landscape Studies survey includes interviews with 39,000 Americans and is the largest survey Pew conducts, providing comprehensive data not collected by the U.S. Census.

“It’s striking to have observed this recent period of stability in American religion after that long period of decline,” said Pew’s Gregory Smith, one of the study’s co-authors. “One thing we can’t know for sure is whether these short-term signs…