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In countries around the globe, there is a noticeable age gap in religious observance. Younger adults are less likely to identify with a religion, believe in God, or engage in religious practices compared to older generations. This trend is not limited to the United States but is also prevalent in various economic and social contexts worldwide. Regardless of wealth, religious landscape, or level of secularization, younger adults exhibit lower levels of religious commitment.

Age Gap in Multiple Measures of Religious Commitment

Across 106 countries surveyed by Pew Research Center, adults aged 18 to 39 are less likely than those aged 40 and above to consider religion as very important in their lives in 46 countries. However, in 58 countries, there are no significant differences between the two age groups in this regard. Only in two countries, Georgia and Ghana, do younger adults show higher levels of religious commitment than their elders.

Similar patterns are observed in religious identification, daily prayer, and weekly worship attendance. Younger adults are less likely to affiliate with a religious group in 41 countries, while only in Chad and Ghana are they more likely to do so. The same trend applies to daily prayer in 71 out of 105 countries, and weekly worship attendance in 53 out of 102 countries.

While the age gap in religious commitment is widespread, the magnitude of the differences varies. On average, the gaps between younger and older adults are relatively small. However, in numerous countries, the gaps exceed 10 percentage points, particularly in European and American countries with a Christian majority. For instance, in the United States, the gap between younger and older adults who identify with a religious group is 17 percentage points, and it reaches 28 points in Canada.

Regional and Religious Differences

Age gaps in religious commitment vary across regions. In Latin America and the Caribbean, 14 out of 19 countries exhibit a significant age gap, as do 18 out of 35 European countries and both the United States and Canada in North America. On the contrary, no significant differences exist between younger and older adults in terms of the importance of religion in sub-Saharan African countries, which generally have high levels of religious commitment.

Age gaps also differ among religious groups. Younger Christian adults show less importance of religion in nearly half of the countries surveyed worldwide, whereas this is the case for Muslims in about a quarter of countries. Among Buddhists, younger adults are less religious in only one country, the United States, out of five countries surveyed. Age does not affect religious commitment for Jews in the United States and Israel, nor for Hindus in the United States and India.

The World: Becoming Less Religious or More?

The age gap in religious commitment does not necessarily imply a global decline in religiousness. In fact, the fastest population growth occurs in the most religious regions due to high fertility rates and younger populations. Countries with high levels of religious affiliation and commitment are projected to grow the fastest.

This analysis is based on Pew Research Center surveys conducted over the past ten years in 106 countries. It reveals age gaps in religious commitment and sheds light on overall levels of religious affiliation, importance, attendance, and prayer worldwide. The report emphasizes age differences within religious groups and countries, rather than comparing different religions. The study aims to understand religious change and its demographic patterns across the globe.

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