US evangelical church growth/attendance from 2019–2026 shows a complex picture: overall identification as evangelical or Protestant has been relatively stable or modestly declining as a share of the population, but church attendance (especially in evangelical congregations) has rebounded post-pandemic in many cases, with signs of stabilization or modest growth in engagement.1535
Key Trends from Major Sources (Pew, Lifeway, PRRI, etc.)
- Identification/Share of Population:
- Pew Research (2023-24 Religious Landscape Study): Evangelical Protestants make up ~23% of US adults (down from 26% in 2007, but the broader Protestant share has been stable at 40-42% since 2019). Overall Christian identification stabilized around 60-64% in recent years after earlier declines.1535
- PRRI data (around 2023-2025): White evangelical Protestants ~13% (down from higher earlier figures like 17% in 2013), with little change in recent years.77
- Broader evangelical/“born-again” self-identification has held steady or shown modest resilience in some surveys (e.g., General Social Survey data), with no sharp collapse in the 2019-2025 period.3
- Attendance and Congregational Growth:
- Many evangelical churches (especially larger ones, Baptists, Pentecostals, Holiness) saw attendance rebounds post-COVID. Lifeway Research reports ~52% of Protestant churches grew attendance by at least 4% in a recent two-year period, with evangelicals outperforming mainline (57% vs. 46% growing).47
- Younger generations (Gen Z and Millennials) have driven some upticks: Gen Z attending more frequently than older groups in some 2025-2026 data.21
- Southern Baptist Convention (largest evangelical group): Membership continued declining (e.g., to ~12.3 million in 2025, lowest in decades), but weekly attendance rose—e.g., +3.6% in one recent year to ~4.46 million, with gains in baptisms and small groups. Attendance has grown for several consecutive years post-pandemic.6749
- Pre- vs. Post-Pandemic Context (2019 onward):
- 2019 was often a baseline before COVID disruptions. Many churches saw drops during the pandemic, followed by partial recovery. Overall, evangelical congregations have been more resilient than mainline ones.9
- Broader challenges: Closures outpacing openings in some Protestant data, lower “biblical worldview” adherence in some evangelical circles, and shifts to hybrid/virtual participation.6
- Positive notes: Increases in Bible sales, Christian music streams, and spiritual app use since 2019/2022.0
Summary of Growth Rate
- Population Share: Roughly flat or slight decline (~0-1% annual drop in some metrics for evangelicals specifically), but stabilization since ~2019-2020. Absolute numbers are supported by US population growth.
- Attendance/Engagement: Modest net growth or recovery in many evangelical settings (e.g., 2-6% annual gains in active attendance for subsets like SBC in recent years), though not uniform—smaller churches often lag.49
- 2026 Outlook: Trends point to continued stability with pockets of growth (especially among younger attendees and newer plants), but structural headwinds like aging membership in some denominations and cultural shifts persist. No broad “boom,” but no accelerating collapse either.4
Data varies by source (self-ID vs. attendance vs. membership), and “evangelical” definitions differ (theological vs. cultural/political). For the most current or denomination-specific details, check Pew, Lifeway Research, or PRRI reports. Trends can shift with new surveys.
