A newly released Gallup poll shows that 42% of American men ages 18 to 29 say religion is “very important” in their lives, marking a sharp increase from recent years and a notable shift in generational trends.

The finding represents a significant jump from 28% recorded in 2022–2023 and marks the first time in at least 25 years that young men have surpassed young women on this measure of religiosity. By comparison, about 30% of women in the same age group said religion holds similar importance in their lives, reflecting little change over the same period.

Historically, young women have reported higher levels of religious commitment than men, but that gap has narrowed in recent years before reversing in the latest data. Gallup’s analysis, based on aggregated survey results, suggests the shift is largely concentrated among Americans under 30, while older age groups still show women as more religious than men.

The increase appears to be driven in part by political alignment. Survey data shows that young Republicans are attending religious services at higher rates than their Democratic counterparts, with roughly six in ten Republican women under 30 reporting at least monthly attendance compared to about one-quarter of Democratic women in the same age group. A similar, though less pronounced, pattern is seen among men.

Researchers say the trend could have broader cultural implications. Ryan Burge, a political scientist at Washington University in St. Louis, described the reversal as a “seismic change,” suggesting it could influence how future generations are raised and how religious institutions evolve.

Other surveys, including research from Pew Research Center, indicate that young men are also more likely than young women to hold traditional views on issues such as divorce and abortion, pointing to a widening divide in values between genders.

At the same time, overall religious engagement in the United States has declined over the past decade. Gallup senior scientist Frank Newport noted that while long-term trends have pointed downward, the latest findings suggest that decline may be stabilizing among younger Americans.

The poll was based on two-year averages from monthly surveys of U.S. adults, with results indicating a potential shift in the country’s religious landscape as younger demographics redefine patterns of faith and participation.