Jordan Meadows
Staff Writer
In recent years, the religious landscape of the United States has undergone a profound shift. Religion, which has long been a powerful influence in American society, is facing a slow but unmistakable decline in adherence, especially in certain regions like North Carolina.
Yet even as the proportion of Americans identifying as Christian continues to shrink, the trend appears to have leveled off in recent years, revealing new nuances in the broader trajectory of American religiosity.
In 1990, 90% of U.S. adults identified as Christian. In 2007, it was 78%. Fast forward to 2024, and that number has dropped to 62%. This “secular surge,” as researchers have called it, has plateaued, with a more modest decline observed in recent years. In fact, since 2022, the percentage of U.S. adults identifying as Christian has risen slightly, marking a pause in the downward slide. Yet despite this, the overall trend remains one of religious decline.
Across the country, the number of Americans who identify as religiously unaffiliated has grown significantly, now comprising around 29% of U.S. adults—up from 16% in 2007. A significant portion of this group consists of younger adults, with nearly half of those aged 18 to 29 reporting no religious affiliation. By contrast, fewer than 20% of Americans over 60 fall into this category.
Among the religiously unaffiliated, a blend of atheism, agnosticism, and those who identify as “nothing in particular” illustrates the wide variety of beliefs—or lack thereof—that characterize this growing demographic.
In North Carolina, the numbers tell a similar story. While close to 70% of North Carolinians still identify as Christian, the number has dropped by 8% over the past decade. This is still higher than the national average, but the trend towards secularization is clear.
The state’s religious landscape is also becoming more diverse, with around 26% of adults now identifying as religiously unaffiliated. This shift mirrors national trends but is particularly striking given North Carolina’s traditionally conservative and religiously devout reputation.
Fewer Americans are identifying with traditional Protestant denominations: though Christianity remains the dominant faith, Protestantism’s share has been steadily declining, with Evangelical Protestants making up 23% of the population, down from 26% in 2007. Similarly, Mainline Protestants now represent 11% of the population, down from 18%, and Black Protestant churches have also seen a decline, now accounting for just 5% of North Carolinians.
Other religions, including Judaism, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, remain relatively small in North Carolina, together comprising about 5% of the adult population. However, the state also reflects a broader global trend: as religious adherence declines, alternative spiritual practices and secular worldviews are gaining ground.
While religion still plays a significant role in many people’s lives, its influence is waning, especially among younger generations. The question of whether this marks a permanent shift or a temporary plateau remains open. The trend of increasing religious disaffiliation seems to be a worldwide phenomenon, with countries like Japan, Italy, and Israel seeing similar patterns.
In the U.S., the influence of religion continues to be significant—especially in certain regions, like the South, where conservative Christian values remain deeply embedded in the culture and politics. In North Carolina, as the state’s religiously unaffiliated population grows, it is likely that the public influence of religion will diminish. At the same time, the growing diversity of beliefs and non-beliefs presents an opportunity for greater interfaith dialogue and understanding.
Ultimately, the changing religiosity in the U.S., and North Carolina specifically, signals a society in flux—one that is still grappling with questions of belief, identity, and community in an increasingly pluralistic world. Whether this trend will continue, plateau, or reverse in the coming years remains to be seen, but it’s clear that the way Americans view religion is transforming with lasting implications for politics, culture, and the very fabric of society itself.
