Religion and Spirituality among Teens and Young Adults: Identity and Belief
Each year Springtide surveys thousands of young people between the ages of 13 and 25. Like previous years, our latest data show that young people continue to claim religious and spiritual identities and beliefs.
IDENTITY
A large majority of young people identify as at least slightly religious (71%) or spiritual (79%). Three-quarters (75%) claim a specific religion, tradition, or worldview, including “spiritual but not religious.” A quarter (25%) identify as “atheist,” “agnostic,” or “none.”
Of the young people we surveyed in 2024, the three largest groups identify as “Just Christian” (26%), “Catholic” (18%), and “Agnostic” (12%). Following the top three, 11% of teens and young adults identify as Protestant, 9% as “None,” and 6% as “Atheist.”
BELIEF
Despite popular narratives of disbelief—especially about young people—most 13-to-25-year-olds express belief in a higher power. Large percentages of young people express undoubting belief in a higher power: 42% tell us, “I know a higher power exists and I have no doubts about it.” About half as many young people (20%) tell us they “don’t believe” or “doubt more than I believe.”
More than half (57%) of young people feel connected to a higher power and humanity and almost 70% feel connected to nature.
To what extent do you feel connected to the following:
Percentage of young people responding “moderately” or “highly”
Note: Percentages are approximate due to rounding.
Source: 2024 Springtide Study of Young People and Civic Life, conducted between December 18, 2023, and March 5, 2024
A larger divide appears in young people’s responses to other belief statements. Substantial numbers of young people report either agreement or neutrality on the statements below.
See how young people are navigating civic life. Order Cultivating Care: How & Why Young People Participate in Civic Life to see our newest data on how and why young people create and sustain patterns of care in their civic lives and how adults can support them.
Note: See survey responses in the topline survey results and review methodology here.
