Recent Gallup poll data reveals a modest recovery in U.S. religious service attendance in 2023. Yet, this figure still lags behind pre-pandemic levels.
The survey, conducted in May 2023, reached over a thousand Americans.
It found that only 31% attended a religious service in the previous week. Although the highest since the pandemic began, this is still below the pre-pandemic average of 34% from 2016 to 2019.
A closer look at the data shows varying declines across different faith groups. For instance, Catholic attendance dropped from 37% to 30%. Meanwhile, Protestant attendance fell from 44% to 40%.
The poll also asked whether the pandemic was the catalyst for the fall in religious service attendance or if it was an acceleration of an existing trend.
Historically, religious service attendance has seen a steady decline over the decades. In the late ’50s, attendance stood at a robust 49%. Fast forward to the ’90s and 2000s, and attendance fluctuated between 38% and 44%.
By 2009, attendance had dropped to 42%. Over the past decade, the numbers have predominantly hovered in the 30s.
Interestingly, political affiliation didn’t shield anyone from this trend. Attendance decline was reported equally across all political groups.
Pray for a revival of attendance to Mass!
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