Gallup Poll: Young U.S. Men Now Report Higher Religiosity Than Young Women, Reversing Long-Term Gender Gap

A Gallup poll released Thursday reveals a marked rise in religiosity among young men in the United States, with 42% of men ages 18 to 29 saying religion is very important to them, up from 28% in 2022-2023. This increase marks the first time in 25 years that young men have surpassed young women on this measure, reversing a longstanding gender gap in religious importance.

The rise in religiosity among young men is driven largely by Republicans, whose weekly attendance at church, synagogue, mosque, or temple has been increasing steadily since 2019.

Conversely, young Democratic men's attendance at religious services has continued to decline over the same period. Young Democratic women also show a decrease in religious attendance, while young Republican women have seen an increase, with about 60% attending religious services at least monthly compared to roughly 25% of Democratic women under 30.

This gender gap reversal in religiosity is confined to adults under 30; among those aged 30 and older, women remain more religious than men.

The increase among young men contrasts with minimal change in religiosity among older men and women since 2022-2023. Additionally, young women’s attachment to religion has remained steady at about 30%. Political scientist and religious trends researcher Ryan Burge described the shift as "a seismic change in society and the future of the church," noting that women are increasingly viewing religion as patriarchal.

" Pew Research Center surveys from March 2025 provide additional context, showing that young men are more likely than young women to hold conservative moral views on divorce, abortion, and homosexuality. About 40% of men under 30 say divorce is morally wrong compared to 20% of young women, and about half of young men say abortion is morally wrong versus one-third of young women.

In Los Angeles, Rabbi Nicole Guzik of Sinai Temple, a Conservative Judaism congregation with 5,000 members, reported steady membership growth since the pandemic and the October 7, 2025, Hamas attack on Israel.

She noted no gender gap in religiosity or attendance within her congregation and emphasized faith’s role in shaping identity amid a polarized world. Gallup reports aggregate religiosity findings every two years, making this 2026 data the latest in a series tracking shifting religious attitudes across generations and political affiliations.