A major global study has revealed a concerning trend for the Christian Church worldwide: fewer people are remaining in the faith they were raised in, especially in wealthier countries.
The report, released last week by the Pew Research Center, shows that Christianity is facing one of the steepest declines among the world’s major religions. The study analysed data from 117 countries and territories, representing 92 per cent of the world’s population.
According to the findings, only 83 per cent of those brought up as Christian still identify as Christian in adulthood. This is a lower retention rate than both Islam and Hinduism, which each retain 99 per cent of their followers. Only Buddhism showed a lower rate, at 78 per cent.
The research also highlights a growing trend of people changing their religious identity—a process often called “religious switching”. However, most people leaving Christianity are not converting to other faiths. Instead, they are becoming religiously unaffiliated, identifying as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular”.
This pattern is most common in high-income countries. In nations with a high Human Development Index (HDI), a median of 18 per cent of adults under age 55 have left the religion of their upbringing. In comparison, in lower-income countries where traditional and religious values are more embedded, the rate of religious switching is closer to 3 per cent.
The United States mirrors this global trend. Only 46 per cent of Americans born after 1990 now identify as Christian, while older generations remain more religiously connected. Researchers say the shift is mostly generational, as younger adults are more likely to walk away from the faith of their childhood.
Yunping Tong, a Pew research associate, said the trend reflects people “shedding their religious identity”. Co-author Gregory Smith added that although there has been a recent period of stabilisation in the US, the long-term direction remains uncertain.
The study also shows that Christianity and Buddhism have the highest rate of disaffiliation, while the number of people identifying as non-religious continues to grow. For every 100 people raised without religion, there is a net gain of 17 more joining the ranks of the unaffiliated.
These changes carry wide-reaching effects—not only for churches but also for education systems, political views, family life, and social values. In many Western nations, religious identity is increasingly seen among older and more conservative populations, while younger generations continue to drift from organised religion.
For Christian leaders, the data provides both a wake-up call and an opportunity for reflection. While reports of local revivals and spiritual renewal continue to emerge, the wider picture is more challenging. The Church may need to rethink how it approaches discipleship, outreach, and community life in an age that is becoming more secular.
This research offers a clearer view of what the Church is facing. The question remains: is the Christian message connecting with the next generation? And if not, what needs to change?
The Church’s mission in today’s world is becoming increasingly urgent. To remain relevant, it must understand and respond to the hearts and minds of younger people.
