The number of people who follow a religious faith is declining, according to a recent Gallup poll. According to the results, only 47% of Americans define themselves as "religious." Meanwhile, the number of those who consider themselves spiritual is growing. The most affected political group is the Democrats.
The data collected by Gallup analyzes trends from 1999 to 2023. In that time frame, religious and spiritual Americans are the majority. The most significant changes in the trend of beliefs occurred in 2002. In 1999, 54% of Americans declared themselves as religious. The figure drops to 50% just three years later. Since 2002, the reduction in the number of believers is much more sustained, reaching 47% in 2023.
In the case of spiritualists it is similar. From 1999 to 2002, Gallup claims that the number of Americans meeting this definition increased from 30% to 33%. Over the next 21 years it remained at the same level. The only group of Americans that has been growing since 1999 is those who do not consider themselves religious or spiritual. In 1999 they were 9% of the population and in 2023 they represent 18%, twice as much. Finally, those who consider themselves neither one nor the other are a minority of 2% in 2023.
According to Gallup, the greatest differences between Americans are seen when dividing the population by age groups and political party. The survey shows how the Republicans remain the party with the most religious voters in their ranks, 61%. 28% of Republicans call themselves spiritual and 8% neither. There was virtually no change in the percentage of religious people in Democratic ranks between 1999 and 2023. Spirituals did grow by 3%.
The religious Democrats decreased by 23 points between 1999 and 2023. They currently represent 37% of the party. On the other hand, spiritual ones grew in larger numbers, going from 27% to 41%. Finally, the independents did not suffer significant changes, but the number of spiritualists was reduced.
Regarding age, in all groups, those who do not declare themselves religious or spiritual are growing. The most important increases are among young people, from 18 to 49 years old. However, between these two groups, the youngest, 18-29, has a higher percentage of religious people than the next age group, in which the spiritual, 37%, almost surpass those who follow the creed of some religion.
