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WASHINGTON, D.C. — Most U.S. adults (65%) say it would be positive for society if more Americans were religious, although that is down from an even larger majority of 75% when 优蜜传媒last asked the question in 2013. Twenty-two percent currently say greater religiosity would be negative for society, while the remainder think it would be neither or do not have an opinion.

The results are from Gallup’s Values and Beliefs survey, conducted May 1-17.

Belief that religion would have a positive effect has shrunk since 2013 among most key demographic and political groups — the exceptions being Republicans, Catholics and those without a religious preference. Democrats, young adults, women and those with some college education are the groups who show the largest changes compared with 2013.

Nonreligious people are the only major subgroup that believes increased religiousness would be negative (55%) rather than positive (27%) for the nation. About half of several other groups think having more religious people would be good for the U.S., but still more in those groups see it as positive than negative. These include young adults (49% positive, 32% negative), Democrats (51% positive, 32% negative) and those with postgraduate education (51% positive, 28% negative).

As was seen in 2013, endorsement of religion as beneficial remains higher among Republicans, those who are religious and adults aged 55 and older.

Public More Inclined to View Religion as Influential in Recent Years

The poll finds that 39% of U.S. adults say religion is increasing its influence on American life. This is among the higher readings in the past two decades, lower only than 41% in December 2025 and 40% in September 2006.

The recent increase began after Republican Party victories in the 2024 elections, with the percentage climbing from 20% in May 2024 to 35% in December of that year. The past two readings, from May and December, have been even higher since the GOP has been in office and governing.

In the past, larger shares of Americans than now have seen religion as influential, including in the initial measure in 1957 (69%), in the early to mid-1980s (when the percentage was consistently above 40%), and for several years after the 9/11 terrorist attacks (including a record 71% in December 2001).

Nearly half of Republicans (48%) now believe that religion is increasing its influence on society, up from 11% before President Donald Trump’s second term began. Thirty-nine percent of independents (up from 21%) and 35% of Democrats (essentially unchanged from 32%) think religion has become more influential.

More Say Government Policies Influence Moral Values

Asked about the extent to which government policies influence moral values, 69% of U.S. adults, up from 59% in 2006 and 58% in 1996, believe that government policies have a significant effect. Twenty-seven percent currently disagree.

All major demographic groups are more likely than 20 years ago to believe that government policies affect people’s values. Republicans, young adults, Catholics and those with no religious affiliation show larger increases, ranging between 17 and 19 percentage points.

Republicans, Catholics, young adults and those who attend religious services weekly are also the groups who are now most likely to believe government policies can influence moral values.

Americans Divide on Whether Government Should Promote Values

Americans remain largely divided over whether the federal government should be involved in promoting moral values: 45% say it should, and 50% say it should not. These figures are essentially the same as in 2006 (48% should, 48% should not), but in 1996, Americans preferred that the government promote moral values — by 60% to 38%.

Partisans take opposing views on the issue, with 62% of Republicans saying government should promote moral values and 67% of Democrats saying it should not. Independents are evenly divided, with 47% favoring each position.

There are similar patterns by church attendance, with 62% of weekly attenders favoring a government role and 60% of those who seldom or never attend religious services opposing government involvement.

In 1996, the party groups generally held similar views, with 62% of Republicans, 60% of independents and 58% of Democrats believing government should promote moral values. The 1996 survey did not measure frequency of religious service attendance.

Bottom Line

While Americans continue to believe a more religious society would serve the U.S. well, fewer hold this view than did in 2013. This shift has come as the percentage of Americans who are religious are, by nearly any measure, near historical lows.

Americans are divided, mostly along party and religious lines, on whether government should promote moral values in the U.S., but fewer also believe this than did three decades ago. At the same time, more Americans think that government policies can affect moral values. The poll comes at a time when a Republican presidential administration has sought to elevate the role of religion in public life, including by establishing the White House Office of Faith, beginning government meetings with Christian prayers, and encouraging federal workers to express their faith in the workplace.

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