Less than half of LGBTQ+ Americans identify with a religion, Pew study finds

Fewer than half of LGBTQ+ adults in the U.S. consider themselves religious, according to new findings from the Pew Research Center. The study reveals striking differences between LGBTQ+ Americans and their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts when it comes to faith, spirituality, and views on religion’s role in society.

Overall, just 48% of U.S. adults who are LGBTQ+ say they identify with a religion, compared with 73% of non-LGBTQ+ adults. That leaves a majority, 52% of LGBTQ+ adults, religiously unaffiliated, nearly double the share of non-LGBT Americans (26%) who say the same.

The unaffiliated group includes those who describe themselves as atheist, agnostic, or “nothing in particular.” Pew researchers note that LGBTQ+ adults are more likely than others to identify with each of these subgroups.

The gaps widen further when looking at religious commitment. Only 17% of LGBTQ+ Americans say religion is very important to them personally, versus 42% of non-LGBTQ+ adults. Likewise, LGBTQ+ adults are about half as likely as others to attend religious services monthly (16% vs. 31%) or pray daily (23% vs. 46%). According to Pew’s data, 8% of U.S. adults identify as LGBTQ+.

Spiritual but not religious

While fewer LGBTQ+ Americans embrace organized religion, many express strong spiritual beliefs. A separate Pew survey – the 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study (RLS) – found that large majorities of LGBTYQ+ adults believe in concepts beyond the physical world.

For example, 80% say people have a soul or spirit apart from the body, and 69% believe in “something spiritual beyond the natural world, even if we cannot see it.”

On some measures, they align closely with the broader U.S. population. Roughly equal shares of LGBTQ+ adults and other Americans say they:

• Feel awe at the beauty of nature at least weekly (62% each)
• Visit nature spots for spiritual reasons (16% vs. 14%)
• Meditate for spiritual reasons (21% vs. 23%)

But differences emerge when it comes to belief in God or an afterlife. For example, 64% of LGBTQ+ adults say they believe in God or a universal spirit, compared with 85% of other Americans. Just 46% say they believe in heaven, hell, or another afterlife, versus 72% of other adults.

Religion viewed with skepticism

LGBTQ+ Americans are also significantly more skeptical about religion’s impact on society, with nearly half (46%) saying religion does more harm than good in the U.S. By comparison, only 17% of non-LGBTQ+ adults agree.

Another 17% of LGBTQ+ respondents say religion does more good than harm, while 37% believe it does about equal amounts of both. The findings suggest that while many LGBTQ+ Americans continue to engage with spirituality, organized religion remains a source of tension – seen by many more as a force of harm than of healing.