Globally, non-religious identification is rising, with over 1 in 4 people unaffiliated. In the U.S., about 30% are “nones,” and 61% of young adults (16-34) in the UK identify with no religion, treating it as a stable, values-driven worldview rather than a phase. Non-religious marriages now significantly outnumber Catholic ones in Ireland.
Key Non-Religious & Secular Trends:
- Rising Secularism: In the U.S., 63% of adults now identify with a religion, down from over 80% in the mid-20th century.
- Declining Importance: The percentage of U.S. adults who say religion is important in their daily lives dropped from 66% in 2015 to 49% in 2025.
- Global “Nones”: China leads with roughly 90% religiously unaffiliated, followed by the U.S. (approx. 101 million) and Japan (57% unaffiliated).
- Values & Morality: A Lifeway Research study shows 79% of non-religious Americans are intentional about their values, with many focusing on personal, secular ethics.
- Generation Z Shift: Young people, particularly women under 30, are increasingly moving away from religious affiliation, often finding meaning in friendships and personal passions.
Recent Legal and Social News:
- Quebec’s Bill 21: Canada’s Supreme Court is reviewing a secularism law that restricts public sector employees from wearing religious symbols, which some report makes them feel like “outsiders”.
- India Hostility: Non-religious individuals in India face hostility, with cases of violence reported against those who abandon religious faiths, according to a National Catholic Reporter article.
- Middle East Trends: Research from Arab Barometer indicates a growing secular trend within the Arab world, with a slow drift away from organized religious institutions.
- Workplace Freedom: The POLITICO report shows a trend toward strengthening individual freedoms in the US, including cases where employees, like high school coaches, can express personal prayers.
Drop in U.S. Religiosity Among Largest in World
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https://news.gallup.com/poll/697676/drop-religiosity-among-largest-world.aspx
