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According to sociologists as of 2022, "the proportion of atheists in the US has held steady at 3% to 4% for more than 80 years." [4] According to the Pew Research Center in a 2014 survey, self-identified atheists make up 3.1% of the US population, even though 9% of Americans agreed with the statement "Do not believe in God" while 2% agreed with the statement "Do not know if they believe in God". [3]
According to the 2014 General Sociological Survey, the number of atheists and agnostics in the U.S. grew over the previous 23 years. In 1991, only 2% identified as atheist, and 4% identified as agnostic; while in 2014, 3.1% identified as atheists, and 5% identified as agnostics. [5]
In 2009, Pew stated that only 5% of the US population did not have a belief in a god and out of that small group only 24% self-identified as "atheist", while 15% self-identified as "agnostic" and 35% self-identified as "nothing in particular". [6]
According to the 2008 ARIS, only 2% the US population was atheist, while 10% were agnostics. [7]
One 2018 research paper using indirect methods estimated that 26% of Americans are atheists, which is much higher than the 3%-11% rates that are consistently found in surveys. [8] However, methodological problems have been identified with this particular study; in particular, it has been posted that many people might not have a binary outlook to the question of the existence of God. [9]
Accurate demographics of atheism are difficult to obtain since conceptions of atheism and self-identification are context dependent by culture. [10]
Age group | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
18-29 year olds | 16 | 6 | [3] | ||
30-49 year olds | 9 | 3 | [3] | ||
All Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
50-64 year olds | 6 | 2 | [3] | ||
65+ year olds | 6 | 2 | [3] | ||
Highest degree earned | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Post-graduate degree | 14 | 5 | [3] | ||
College graduate | 14 | 5 | [3] | ||
All Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Some college | 9 | 3 | [3] | ||
High school or less | 6 | 2 | [3] | ||
Gender | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Male American | 12 | 4 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Female American | 6 | 2 | [3] | ||
Generation | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Younger Millennial Americans | 17 | 6 | [3] | ||
Older Millennial Americans | 13 | 4 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Generation X Americans | 9 | 3 | [3] | ||
Greatest Americans | 7 | 2 | [3] | ||
Baby Boomer Americans | 6 | 2 | [3] | ||
Silent Americans | 6 | 1 | [3] | ||
Cohort | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
$100,000 or more, Americans | 14 | 5 | [3] | ||
$50,000-$99,999, Americans | 11 | 3 | [3] | ||
$30,000-$49,999, Americans | 9 | 3 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Less than $30,000, Americans | 7 | 2 | [3] | ||
Generation | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Second generation Americans | 14 | 4 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Third generation or higher Americans | 9 | 3 | [3] | ||
Immigrants | 8 | 3 | [3] | ||
Cohort | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Never married Americans | 15 | 5 | [3] | ||
Living with a partner Americans | 14 | 5 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Married Americans | 7 | 2 | [3] | ||
Divorced/separated Americans | 6 | 2 | [3] | ||
Widowed Americans | 3 | 1 | [3] | ||
State/federal district | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Greater San Francisco Bay Area | 21 | 5 | [3] | ||
Seattle metropolitan area | 20 | 10 | [3] | ||
Boston metropolitan area | 17 | 4 | [3] | ||
Providence metropolitan area | 15 | 4 | [3] | ||
Baltimore metropolitan area | 14 | 3 | [3] | ||
Philadelphia metropolitan area | 13 | 5 | [3] | ||
Tampa metropolitan area | 13 | 4 | [3] | ||
San Diego metropolitan area | 12 | 3 | [3] | ||
Washington metropolitan area | 12 | 4 | [3] | ||
Greater Los Angeles Area | 11 | 4 | [3] | ||
New York metropolitan area | 11 | 4 | [3] | ||
Phoenix metropolitan area | 11 | 3 | [3] | ||
Chicago metropolitan area | 10 | 3 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Detroit metropolitan area | 9 | 3 | [3] | ||
Miami metropolitan area | 9 | 3 | [3] | ||
Riverside metropolitan area | 8 | 1 | [3] | ||
Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex | 7 | 1 | [3] | ||
Atlanta metropolitan area | 6 | 3 | [3] | ||
Houston metropolitan area | 6 | 2 | [3] | ||
St. Louis metropolitan area | 6 | 3 | [3] | ||
Pittsburgh metropolitan area | 5 | 3 | [3] | ||
Political affiliation | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Democrat/Lean Democrat Americans | 13 | 5 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
No lean, Americans | 9 | 3 | [3] | ||
Republican/Lean Republican Americans | 5 | 1 | [3] | ||
Parental status | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Non-parents of children under 18 year old Americans | 10 | 3 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Parents of children under 18 year old Americans | 7 | 2 | [3] | ||
Political ideology | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Liberal Americans | 19 | 7 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Moderate Americans | 9 | 3 | [3] | ||
Don't know, Americans | 8 | [3] | |||
Conservative Americans | 3 | 1 | [3] | ||
Racial group | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asian Americans | 19 | 6 | [3] | ||
White Americans | 11 | 4 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Other/Mixed Americans | 8 | 2 | [3] | ||
Latino Americans | 6 | 2 | [3] | ||
African Americans | 2 | 1 | [3] | ||
State/federal district | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Northeastern United States | 12 | 4 | [3] | ||
Western United States | 12 | 4 | [3] | ||
Americans | 9 | 3.1 | [3] | ||
Midwestern United States | 8 | 3 | [3] | ||
Southern United States | 7 | 2 | [3] | ||
Sexual orientation | % of self described atheists | Source | |
---|---|---|---|
LGBT Americans | 8 | [3] | |
Americans | 3.1 | [3] | |
Straight Americans | 3 | [3] | |
State/federal district | % of lack of belief in god/gods | % of self described atheists | Source | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
# of population | # of population | ||||||
Vermont | 131,406 | 21 | 43,802 | 7 | [3] [2] | ||
Massachusetts | 1,178,573 | 18 | 327,381 | 5 | [3] [2] | ||
Maine | 212,538 | 16 | 26,567 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
New Hampshire | 210,635 | 16 | 78,988 | 6 | [3] [2] | ||
District of Columbia | 84,241 | 14 | 24,069 | 4 | [3] [2] | ||
Oregon | 498,040 | 13 | 191,554 | 5 | [3] [2] | ||
Washington | 874,190 | 13 | 336,227 | 5 | [3] [2] | ||
Alaska | 85,228 | 12 | 35,512 | 5 | [3] [2] | ||
California | 4,470,475 | 12 | 1,490,158 | 4 | [3] [2] | ||
Connecticut | 427,834 | 12 | 178,264 | 5 | [3] [2] | ||
Nevada | 324,066 | 12 | 135,028 | 5 | [3] [2] | ||
Wisconsin | 682,438 | 12 | 170,610 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
New York | 2,131,591 | 11 | 968,905 | 5 | [3] [2] | ||
Idaho | 172,434 | 11 | 31,352 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
New Mexico | 226,510 | 11 | 61,775 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Rhode Island | 115,782 | 11 | 42,103 | 4 | [3] [2] | ||
Arizona | 639,202 | 10 | 191,761 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Colorado | 502,920 | 10 | 201,168 | 4 | [3] [2] | ||
Florida | 1,880,131 | 10 | 564,039 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Indiana | 648,380 | 10 | 194,514 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Maryland | 577,355 | 10 | 173,207 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Pennsylvania | 1,270,238 | 10 | 381,071 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Hawaii | 122,427 | 9 | 27,206 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Illinois | 1,154,757 | 9 | 384,919 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Iowa | 274,172 | 9 | 121,854 | 4 | [3] [2] | ||
Michigan | 889,528 | 9 | 296,509 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Minnesota | 477,353 | 9 | 159,118 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Nebraska | 164,371 | 9 | 18,263 | 1 | [3] [2] | ||
United States | 27,787,098 | 9 | 9,571,112 | 3.1 | [3] [2] | ||
Montana | 79,153 | 8 | 39,577 | 4 | [3] [2] | ||
New Jersey | 703,352 | 8 | 175,838 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
North Dakota | 53,807 | 8 | 13,452 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Utah | 221,111 | 8 | 82,917 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Virginia | 640,082 | 8 | 160,020 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Kentucky | 303,756 | 7 | 173,574 | 4 | [3] [2] | ||
Delaware | 62,855 | 7 | 17,959 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Kansas | 199,718 | 7 | 57,062 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
North Carolina | 667,484 | 7 | 190,710 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Ohio | 807,555 | 7 | 230,730 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
South Dakota | 56,993 | 7 | 24,425 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
Georgia | 581,259 | 6 | 193,753 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Louisiana | 272,002 | 6 | 90,667 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Missouri | 359,336 | 6 | 119,779 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Texas | 1,508,734 | 6 | 502,911 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Wyoming | 33,818 | 6 | 16,909 | 3 | [3] [2] | ||
South Carolina | 231,268 | 5 | 46,254 | 1 | [3] [2] | ||
West Virginia | 92,650 | 5 | 18,530 | 1 | [3] [2] | ||
Arkansas | 116,637 | 4 | 58,318 | 2 | [3] [2] | ||
Mississippi | 118,692 | 4 | 29,673 | 1 | [3] [2] | ||
Tennessee | 190,383 | 3 | 63,461 | 1 | [3] [2] | ||
Alabama | 95,595 | 2 | 47,797 | 1 | [3] [2] | ||
Photo | Name | State | Position | Party | Term | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pete Stark | California | United States Representative from California's 8th district, 9th district, 13th district | Democratic | 1973–2013 | [11] | |
Jared Huffman | California | United States Representative from California's 2nd district | Democratic | 2013–present | [12] | |
Barney Frank | Massachusetts | United States Representative from Massachusetts's 4th district | Democratic | 1981–2013 | [13] | |
Photo | Name | State | Position | Party | Term | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thomas Gore | Oklahoma | United States Senator from Oklahoma | Democratic | 1907–1921 1931, 1937 | [14] | |
Kyrsten Sinema | Arizona | United States Senator from Arizona | Independent | 2019– | [15] | |
Photo | Name | State | Position | Party | Term | Source | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Culbert Olson | California | 29th Governor of California | Democratic | 1939–1943 | [16] | ||
Jesse Ventura | Minnesota | 38th Governor of Minnesota | Reform (1998-2000) | Independence (2000-2003) | 1999–2003 | [17] | |
Photo | Name | State | Position | Party | Term | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Timothy Smith | New Hampshire | New Hampshire State Representative | Democratic | 2012-Present | [18] | |
Culbert Olson | California | California State Senator | Democratic | 1934–1938 | [16] | |
Jared Huffman | California | California State Assembly, 2nd district | Democratic | 2006–2012 | [12] | |
Sean Faircloth | Maine | Maine Representative, 17th and 117th districts | Democratic | 1992–1994 2002–2008 1994–1996 | ||
Barney Frank | Massachusetts | Massachusetts State Representative, 5th and 8th Suffolk districts | Democratic | 1973–1981 | [13] | |
Ernie Chambers | Nebraska | Nebraska State Senator, 11th district | Independent | 1971–2009 2013–2021 | [19] | |
Megan Hunt | Nebraska | Nebraska State Senator, 8th district | Democratic | 2019–present | [20] | |
Lori Lipman Brown | Nevada | Nevada State Senator | Democratic | 1992–1994 | [21] | |
Andrew Zwicker | New Jersey | New Jersey General Assembly, 16th District | Democratic | 2016–present | [22] | |
Culbert Olson | Utah | Utah State Senator | Democratic | 1916–1920 | [16] | |
Photo | Name | State | Position | Party | Term | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Jesse Ventura | Minnesota | Mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota | Independent | 1991–1995 | [17] | |
Rocky Anderson | Utah | 33rd Mayor of Salt Lake City, Utah | Democratic | 2000–2008 | [23] | |
Photo | Name | State | Position | Party | Term | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sean Faircloth | Maine | Chair of the City Council of Bangor | Democratic | 2016–present | ||
Cecil Bothwell | North Carolina | City councilor of Asheville | Democratic | 2009–2017 | ||
A June–September 2014 Pew Research Center survey found that 69% of atheist Americans identity as Democratic or lean Democratic, 17% have no lean, 15% identify as Republican, 56% liberal, 29% moderate, 10% conservative, and 5% don't know. Among Americans who don't believe in god/gods, 65% identity as Democratic or lean Democratic, 17% have no lean, 18% identity as Republican, 50% liberal, 31% moderate, 13% conservative, and 6% don't know. That makes atheist and nonbelievers in god/gods Americans as belief groups to be the most politically liberal belief group in America and the least politically aligned belief group with Republicans and conservatism in the United States. [3]
In 2014, a Pew survey found that 53% of Americans claimed they would be less likely to vote for a presidential candidate who was an atheist. [24]
A October 2013 Public Religion Research Institute American Values Survey found 58% of American libertarians report they believe in a personal god, 25% believe god is an impersonal force in the universe, and 16% report that they do not believe in a god. It also found 73% of Americans who identify with the Tea Party report they believe in a personal god, 19% believe god is an impersonal force in the universe, and 6% report that they do not believe in a god. It also found 90% of white evangelical Protestants report they believe in a personal god, 8% believe god is an impersonal force in the universe, and less than 1% report that they do not believe in a god. [25]
Agnosticism is the view or belief that the existence of God, of the divine or the supernatural is unknown or unknowable. Another definition provided is the view that "human reason is incapable of providing sufficient rational grounds to justify either the belief that God exists or the belief that God does not exist."
Irreligion is the neglect or active rejection of religion and, depending on the definition, a simple absence of religion.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines religiosity as: "Religiousness; religious feeling or belief. [...] Affected or excessive religiousness". Different scholars have seen this concept as broadly about religious orientations and degrees of involvement or commitment. Religiosity is measured at the levels of individuals or groups and there is a lack of agreement on what criteria would constitute religiosity among scholars. Sociologists of religion have observed that an individual's experience, beliefs, sense of belonging, and behavior often are not congruent with their actual religious behavior, since there is much diversity in how one can be religious or not. Multiple problems exist in measuring religiosity. For instance, measures of variables such as church attendance produce different results when different methods are used - such as traditional surveys vs time-use surveys.
Jewish atheism refers to the atheism of people who are ethnically and culturally Jewish. Contrary to popular belief, the term "Jewish atheism" is not a contradiction because Jewish identity encompasses not only religious components, but also ethnic and cultural ones. Jewish law's emphasis on descent through the mother means that even religiously conservative Orthodox Jewish authorities would accept an atheist born to a Jewish mother as fully Jewish.
Some movements or sects within traditionally monotheistic or polytheistic religions recognize that it is possible to practice religious faith, spirituality and adherence to tenets without a belief in deities. People with what would be considered religious or spiritual belief in a supernatural controlling power are defined by some as adherents to a religion; the argument that atheism is a religion has been described as a contradiction in terms.
Accurate demographics of atheism are difficult to obtain since conceptions of atheism vary considerably across different cultures and languages, ranging from an active concept to being unimportant or not developed. Also in some countries and regions atheism carries a strong stigma, making it harder to count atheists in these countries. In global studies, the number of people without a religion is usually higher than the number of people without a belief in a deity and the number of people who agree with statements on lacking a belief in a deity is usually higher than the number of people who self-identify as "atheists".
Discrimination against atheists, sometimes called atheophobia, atheistophobia, or anti-atheism, both at present and historically, includes persecution of and discrimination against people who are identified as atheists. Discrimination against atheists may be manifested by negative attitudes, prejudice, hostility, hatred, fear, or intolerance towards atheists and atheism or even the complete denial of atheists existence. It is often expressed in distrust regardless of its manifestation. Perceived atheist prevalence seems to be correlated with reduction in prejudice. There is global prevalence of mistrust in moral perceptions of atheists found in even secular countries and among atheists.
Christian atheism is a form of atheism that adopts the teachings, narratives, symbols, practices, or communities associated with Christianity without accepting the literal existence of God.
Atheism, in the broadest sense, is an absence of belief in the existence of deities. Less broadly, atheism is a rejection of the belief that any deities exist. In an even narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities. Atheism is contrasted with theism, which in its most general form is the belief that at least one deity exists.
Atheism, agnosticism, scepticism, freethought, secular humanism or general irreligion are increasing in Australia. Post-war Australia has become a highly secularised country. Religion does not play a major role in the lives of much of the population.
In the United States, between 6% and 15% of citizens demonstrated nonreligious attitudes and naturalistic worldviews, namely atheists or agnostics. The number of self-identified atheists and agnostics was around 4% each, while many persons formally affiliated with a religion are likewise non-believing.
Agnostic atheism or atheistic agnosticism is a philosophical position that encompasses both atheism and agnosticism. Agnostic atheists are atheistic because they do not hold a belief in the existence of any deity and are agnostic because they claim that the existence of a divine entity or entities is either unknowable in principle or currently unknown in fact.
The Philippine Atheism, Agnosticism, and Secularism Inc. (PATAS) is a nonprofit organization for the public understanding of atheism and agnosticism in the Philippines. It serves to educate society, and eliminate myths and misconceptions about atheism and agnosticism. It speaks against discrimination of the non-religious, and for equal opportunities as Filipino citizens. PATAS encourages harmonious information exchange among its atheist and agnostic members, and encourages its members to come out and speak for their lack of religious beliefs. The society was founded in February 2011 by Jose Juan Paraiso, who served as the first chairperson and president, respectively.
Irreligion in Egypt is controversial due to the prominence of conservative social traditions and the persecution by the religious institutions in the country. It is difficult to quantify the number of atheists or agnostics in Egypt, as the stigma attached to being one makes it hard for irreligious Egyptians to publicly profess their views and beliefs.
Irreligion in the Middle East is the lack of religion in the Middle East. Though atheists in the Middle East are rarely public about their lack of belief, as they are persecuted in many countries where they are classified as terrorists, there are some atheist organizations in the Middle East. Islam dominates public and private life in most Middle East countries. Nonetheless, there reside small numbers of irreligious individuals within those countries who often face serious formal and, in some cases, informal legal and social consequences.
Irreligion in Latin America refers to various types of irreligion, including atheism, agnosticism, deism, secular humanism, secularism and non-religious. According to a Pew Research Center survey from 2014, 8% of the population is not affiliated with a religion.
The secular movement refers to a social and political trend in the United States, beginning in the early years of the 20th century, with the founding of the American Association for the Advancement of Atheism in 1925 and the American Humanist Association in 1941, in which atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, freethinkers, and other nonreligious and nontheistic Americans have grown in both numbers and visibility. There has been a sharp increase in the number of Americans who identify as religiously unaffiliated, from under 10 percent in the 1990s to 20 percent in 2013. The trend is especially pronounced among young people, with about one in three Americans younger than 30 identifying as religiously unaffiliated, a figure that has nearly tripled since the 1990s.
Atheism in the African diaspora is atheism as it is experienced by black people outside of Africa. In the United States, black people are less likely than any other ethnic groups to be religiously unaffiliated, let alone identifying as atheist. The demographics are similar in the United Kingdom. Atheists are individuals who do not hold a belief in God or gods. Atheism is a disbelief in God or gods or a denial of God or gods, or it is simply a lack of belief in gods. Some, but not all, atheists identify as secular humanists, who are individuals who believe that life has meaning and joy without the need for the supernatural or religion and that all individuals should live ethical lives which can provide for the greater good of humanity. Black atheists and secular humanists exist today and in history, though many were not always vocal in their beliefs or lack of belief.
The percentage answering 'no religion' was 21 percent in 2014, 20 percent in 2012, just 14 percent as recently as 2000, and only 8 percent in 1990." & "In 2014, 3 percent of Americans did not believe in God and 5 percent expressed an agnostic view; the comparable percentages were 2 percent and 4 percent in 1991. More people believed in a 'higher power' in 2014 (13%) than in 1991 (7%).
Formerly a Lutheran, Ventura generally considers himself an atheist.