Only 47% of Americans Say Religion Is ‘Very Important’ as Religious ‘Nones’ Reach Record High

For the first time in modern polling history, fewer than half of Americans — just 47% — say religion is "very important" in their lives.

Religious "Nones," those with no formal religious affiliation, have reached a record high of 24%, up from just 2% in 1948.

57% of Americans now say they seldom or never attend religious services, up from 42% in 1992.
Young adults are the least religious demographic, with 35% identifying as "Nones" and 61% rarely or never attending services.

Black Americans have experienced the steepest decline of any group, dropping from 85% calling religion very important in 2001–2005 to 63% by 2021–2025.

Republicans have held relatively steady at 64% saying religion is very important, while Democrats have plummeted from 60% to 37% over two decades.

Experts say there is no data suggesting a reversal, with generational replacement driving a long-term structural decline in American religious life.