American Bible Society data shows churches healthier than expected

Data collected from the American Bible Society’s monthlong survey described what the organization characterized as a healthy increase in church attendance among Americans. The nonprofit released the fifth chapter of its annual State of the Bible report on Wednesday, which showed that American churches are healthier than might be expected, but still have room to grow. The report’s editor-in-chief, Dr. John Farquhar Plake, described the results to WORLD as encouraging, with data also showing opportunities for church leaders to reach out to specific demographics.

The organization surveyed over 2,600 American adults across all 50 states and the District of Columbia during the month of January. The responses showed almost 50% of self-identifying Christians attended church at least once a month. The report also found an increase of about 8 million Americans attending church at least twice a year or more in 2025. The number of Americans who rarely or never attended a Christian church appeared to drop slightly since 2024. Both Gen X and Millennials saw an increase in church attendance in the last two years, though Gen Z saw a 4% decrease.

The nonprofit also flagged several groups that struggled with church attendance more than others. Men appeared less likely to attend than women, and young adults were not in the habit of going to church, according to the findings. However, among the churchgoers, the report found that overall, across five separate measures, an average of about 46% were very satisfied with the health of their church and how their church ministered to them. Roughly 23% of those surveyed were dissatisfied, based on a weighted average across the same five separate measures. Gen Z men reported the lowest satisfaction levels. Church leaders need to think about how best to engage those young men and invest in their spiritual formation and growth, the chapter noted.