New survey data shows rising religious importance among young men, reversing a longstanding gender trend in the United States.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
A newly released Gallup survey indicates a significant shift in religious attitudes among younger Americans, with men ages 18 to 29 now more likely than women in the same age group to say religion plays a central role in their lives.
According to the findings, 42% of young men reported that religion is “very important” to them, a sharp increase from 28% recorded in the 2022–2023 period. In contrast, young women’s responses remained relatively unchanged at approximately 30%, resulting in the first instance in at least 25 years where young men have exceeded women on this measure.
Historically, women—particularly younger women—have reported higher levels of religious engagement than men. While that gap narrowed in recent years, the latest data reflects a reversal that is confined to adults under 30. Among individuals aged 30 and older, women continue to report higher levels of religiosity than men.
The increase appears to be concentrated among younger individuals who identify with the Republican Party. Survey data shows rising attendance at religious services among both young Republican men and women since 2019, while attendance among their Democratic counterparts has either declined or remained low. Among women under 30, about one-quarter of Democrats report attending religious services at least monthly, compared to roughly 60% of Republican women.
Political scientist Ryan Burge of Washington University in St. Louis described the reversal as a major societal development.
“To see the gender gap with religion reversed in Gen Z adults represents a seismic change in society and the future of the church,” Burge said. “It could change the way children are raised,” he added, noting potential long-term implications for the country’s religious landscape.
Burge attributed part of the trend to young men seeking environments where they feel more accepted.
“It’s the only place where you don’t have to apologize for being a white man,” he said. “American religion is very white male dominated and young men are drawn to institutions that elevate them and give them influence and power.”
Additional survey data from Pew Research Center suggests broader differences between young men and women on moral issues. Research conducted in March 2025 found that about 40% of men under 30 consider divorce morally wrong, compared to roughly 20% of women in the same age group. Approximately half of young men said abortion is morally wrong, compared to about one-third of young women, while views on homosexuality also showed a similar, though less pronounced, gender divide.
Burge noted that younger women are increasingly identifying as politically liberal and may view religion differently as a result.
“Women are viewing religion as patriarchal,” he said. “Abortion is illegal in many states because of Christianity and young women tend to be progressive on issues such as abortion and LGBTQ rights. It feels repressive to them.”
Despite broader trends, some religious communities report stable participation across genders. Nicole Guzik, co-senior rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, said her congregation has experienced steady growth since the COVID-19 pandemic and the Oct. 7 attack on Israel, without observing a clear gender divide in attendance.
“It’s about being in a place of belonging and inspiration,” Guzik said. “People are seeking something right now. There’s a crisis of loneliness and mental health. Social media and AI are not helping. I’m glad that religious institutions are able to provide some semblance of light in these times.”
Gallup senior scientist Frank Newport said the findings may also signal a pause in the broader decline of religious engagement among younger Americans.
“One of the dominant trends we’ve observed in recent years has been a decline in religiosity among Americans,” Newport said. “Now, in young people, we’re seeing that decline beginning to stop. That’s pretty significant.”
The survey results are based on aggregated responses from Gallup’s monthly telephone interviews conducted between 2024 and 2025, including more than 4,000 U.S. adults. Within that sample, 295 men and 145 women between the ages of 18 and 29 were surveyed, with margins of error of plus or minus 7 percentage points for men and 10 percentage points for women.
While overall attendance rates at religious services remain similar between genders, younger women are less likely than older women to attend services at least once a month, according to the data.
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