Pew poll: a record 68% of Americans think belief in God is not necessary for morality

In the United States, a record 68% of adults believe that belief in God is not necessary for morality and “good values”, and similar trends are recorded in the world. This is reported by a Pew Research Center survey; against the same background, Gallup data indicate a growing proportion of “irreligious” and a decline in the importance of religion in the lives of Americans.

According to data cited by Christian Today, a Pew survey in the U.S. (Wave 166, March 24-30, 2025, 3,605 adults) shows that the question about the relationship between faith and morality has been asked 18 times since 2002, and in 2025, 68% of adults agree with the statement “you don’t have to believe in God to be moral and have good values.” That’s the highest in the entire observation period; by comparison, 58% held that position in 2014. Pew senior researcher Jonathan Evans noted, “From 2002 through 2011, Americans’ opinions were about evenly divided or leaning toward the necessity of believing in God for morality. Since 2014, the opposite view – that belief in God is not necessary – has more often prevailed.” Since 2020, approximately two-thirds of U.S. adults have consistently shared this position.

The international bloc of the study included adults in 24 countries in Europe, Africa, Asia and both Americas. In half of them, predominantly in Europe, majorities agree that belief in God is not a prerequisite for morality. However, only India and Indonesia showed an increase in the proportion who believe faith is essential: according to Evans, “Indians today are 6 points more likely than in 2019 (85% vs. 79%) and 15 points more likely than in 2013 (85% vs. 70%) to associate morality with belief in God. In Indonesia, 96% of adults or more have affirmed this connection in all five waves of the survey since 2007.” The study also captures “a strong correlation between one’s own belief in God and the view that faith is necessary for morality.”

In contrast to many European countries, in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, Nigeria, South Africa and Turkey, most adults link morality and good values with faith in God. The Hungarian example is illustrative: among those for whom religion is “very important,” about two-thirds consider faith essential to morality, compared with only 19% of those who attach less importance to religion.

Adding to the context of U.S. trends is fresh Gallup data: the share of adults without a formal religious identity (“nones”) is at a record high, and less than half of Americans consider religion “very important” in their lives. According to the data, 47% of U.S. adults say religion is “very important” and another 25% say it is “fairly important.” The percentage of those for whom religion is “very important” is down from 70-75% in the 1950s and 1960s to 58% in 2012. As Gallup Senior Editor Megan Brenan summarizes, “Americans’ attitudes toward religion continue to change, with fewer and fewer adults describing religion as a central part of their lives.”

As a reminder, a new report by the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) at the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has revealed a disturbing trend: hate crimes against Christians in Europe are often downplayed or completely ignored. The paper, presented at the Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, emphasizes that Christians face a wide range of harassment, from vandalism and graffiti to violent attacks and even murder, leading many communities to increase security measures.