Gallup: Liberals, Youth, Democrats 'Least Likely to Believe in God'

(CNS News) — In its latest Values and Beliefs survey, Gallup found that belief in God in the U.S. has fallen to 81%, a new low, and that liberals, young people, and Democrats are the “least likely to believe in God.”

According to Gallup, in 2013-17, 87% of American adults said they believed in God. In 2022, however, that percentage had fallen to 81%, a decline of six percentage points.

Among 18-29 year olds, belief in God fell 10 points, from 78% to 68%. For unmarried Americans, belief fell 8 percentage points (85% to 77%).  For Democrats, belief in God fell from 84% to 72%, a decline of 12 percentage points. For liberals, there was an 11 point drop (73% to 62%).  

“The vast majority of U.S. adults believe in God, but the 81% who do so is down six percentage points from 2017 and is the lowest in Gallup’s trend,” reported the survey firm.  “Between 1944 and 2011, more than 90% of Americans believed in God.”

Back in the 1940s-1960s, “a consistent 98% said they believed in God,” reported Gallup. In 2011, that number had fallen to 92%, an din 2013 it was dipping into 87%.

Belief in God has fallen most among liberals, youth, and Democrats, said Gallup. 

“These groups show drops of 10 or more percentage points,” and the “groups with the largest declines are also the groups that are currently least likely to believe in God, including liberals (62%), young adults (68%) and Democrats (72%),” said Gallup.

“Belief in God is highest among political conservatives (94%) and Republicans (92%), reflecting that religiosity is a major determinant of political divisions in the U.S.,” the polling firm reported.

Gallup also asked, “Which comes closest to your view about God — God hears your prayers, God hears your prayers and can intervene on your behalf, or God does neither of these?”

Forty-two percent of Americans said they believe God hears prayers and intervenes. Twenty-eight percent said God hears prayers only. Eleven percent said God neither hears prayers nor intervenes, and 17% said they do not believe in God. 

Among those adults who believe God hears and answers prayers, 74% said they go to church weekly, 54% are Republican, 56% are conservative, and 50% are ages 50-64.

Only 25% of liberals said God hears prayers and intervenes; only 32% of Democrats said the same. 

“Fewer Americans today than five years ago believe in God, and the percentage is down even more from the 1950s and 1960s when almost all Americans did,” said Gallup.  “Still, the vast majority of Americans believe in God, whether that means they believe a higher power hears prayers and can intervene or not.”

“And while belief in God has declined in recent years, Gallup has documented steeper drops in church attendance, church membership and confidence in organized religion, suggesting that the practice of religious faith may be changing more than basic faith in God,” concluded Gallup. 

To read the survey, click here.  

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