In recent years, there’s been a notable shift in how young men and women in the U.S. view religion. According to Gallup’s data from 2024-2025, 42% of young men now say religion is “very important” to them. This is a big jump from just 28% in 2022-2023. On the other hand, young women’s attachment to religion has stayed steady at around 30%.
This marks a significant change. Until now, young women had consistently led young men in valuing religion. Back in the early 2000s, young women were nine percentage points ahead (52% to 43%). This gap widened to 16 points over the years, but it has now reversed. Young men have surpassed young women, a trend that is limited to those aged 18 to 29. For those 30 and older, women continue to be more religious than men.
Interestingly, the rise in religiosity among young men mirrors past behaviors. In 2000-2001, 43% of them expressed similar sentiments about religion. Meanwhile, the percentage of young women identifying with a religion has decreased to 60%, down from 66% in 2016-2017. This contrasting trend means young men now hold a slight edge in religious affiliation.
When looking at attendance at religious services, young men’s participation has also increased. In 2024-2025, 40% of young men reported attending services monthly or more. This is a significant increase from 33% just a few years ago. Young women have also seen a small rise, reaching 39%, but they remain far below earlier levels.
The reasons behind these changes can be linked to political affiliations. Gallup notes that young Republican men have shown greater increases in religious attendance. Among young Republican women, attendance has also grown, while attendance among young Democratic men has declined. Interestingly, young Democratic women haven’t experienced much change. In 2024-2025, 48% of young men identified as or leaned Republican, compared to only 27% of young women.
These findings suggest that a political dynamic may be influencing the resurgence of religious interest among young men. With the overall trend showing a decline in religiosity among Americans, young men are bucking this trend. As they continue to value religion more, it will be interesting to see if this shift is lasting or just a temporary phase.
For more insights and updates, check out Gallup’s ongoing research on religion and social trends.
