How many Americans don't attend Church

Approximately two in five adults (44%) are considered to be "unchurched" in America today, a percentage which has changed little over the last two decades. The number of Americans who are without a church membership or have not attended regular services within the last six months -- 44%, according to a 1998 Gallup poll -- is the same percentage recorded a decade earlier in 1988, and is only slightly higher than the percentage of the population recorded in 1978 (41%). 

In general, the unchurched are more likely to be men (50%, compared with 39% of women), and less than 30 years of age (49%). People living in the West also have a greater propensity to be unchurched; 52% fall into this category. People living in the South, as well as those who live in rural environments, are more apt either to be members of a church or to attend a religious service aside from special occasions.     

Race represents one of the areas of sharpest divergence on the matter of church participation. Almost one in two whites (45%) are classified as unchurched, but the figure drops to below one in three (32%) among blacks in this country. However, the greatest divergence appears among ideological subcultures of the American population. Whereas 55% of liberals in this country dissociate themselves from a church, only 35% of conservatives fall into the same category.

by Michael Lindsay

GALLUP NEWS SERVICE

March 28, 2000

http://www.gallup.com/poll/releases/pr000328b.asp