Perception of Religion’s Influence on US Life Surges Significantly, Gallup Reports

Washington D.C. — A new analysis from Gallup News, released as a key finding on June 11, 2025, reveals a substantial shift in how Americans perceive the role of religion in the United States. According to the report, a notable thirty-four percent of U.S. adults now believe that religion is increasing its influence on American life. This represents a significant rise compared to the twenty percent who held this view just one year prior.

This marked increase in the perception of religion’s growing impact occurs within a complex and evolving religious landscape, according to the data. The findings suggest that while the perceived influence is on the rise, trends in specific religious beliefs show a different trajectory.

Shifting Perceptions Amidst Stable Identity

The twenty-twenty-five figure of thirty-four percent believing in religion’s increasing influence contrasts sharply with the measurement taken in twenty-twenty-four. This fourteen-percentage-point jump in just twelve months signals a potentially important moment in how the public views the interaction between faith and society in the United States. The reasons behind this increased perception are likely multifaceted, potentially reflecting heightened public discourse on religious issues, the role of faith in politics, or other societal developments.

However, the same Gallup News report highlights that alongside this surge in perceived influence, Americans’ belief in five specific religious entities—God, angels, heaven, hell, and the devil—has shown a different trend. Belief in these core concepts has slightly decreased since twenty-sixteen, continuing a long-term pattern observed by pollsters over several decades. This presents a nuanced picture: the public sees religion becoming more influential, even as individual adherence to belief in specific supernatural figures or realms shows a modest decline.

The American Religious Landscape: Stability and Diversity

The analysis also provides insights into the overall composition of the U.S. religious landscape, noting a degree of stability in religious preferences since twenty-twenty. The report indicates that over one in five U.S. adults report having no religious preference, a figure that has remained relatively consistent in recent years.

The data further details the dominant religious identifications within the country. Close to seventy percent of Americans identify as Christian. This broad category is primarily composed of forty-five percent Protestant and twenty-one percent Catholic adherents, reflecting the enduring historical foundations of Christianity in the United States.

Beyond traditional religious affiliations, the Gallup findings also segment the population based on how individuals describe their personal relationship with faith or spirituality. Overall, forty-seven percent of U.S. adults describe themselves as religious. Another significant segment, accounting for thirty-three percent, identify as spiritual but not religious. The remaining eighteen percent state that they are neither religious nor spiritual.

Interpreting the Trends

The juxtaposition of a sharp rise in the perception of religion’s influence and a slight decline in belief in specific religious entities presents a compelling area for sociological and political analysis. It suggests that the public’s understanding of religion’s impact may be increasingly tied to its visible role in the public square, cultural debates, or political life, rather than solely reflecting trends in personal theological conviction or affiliation.

The stability in overall religious identification since twenty-twenty, coupled with the significant proportion of Americans reporting no religious preference or identifying as spiritual but not religious, underscores the diverse and evolving nature of faith and belief in the United States. The June 11, 2025, Gallup News finding serves as a key indicator of a changing national conversation about the place and power of religion in contemporary American society.