Evangelicals ‘Far Fewer in Number’ Than Reported, New Survey Reveals

A fresh survey from Arizona Christian University challenges the widely held belief about the number of evangelicals in the United States. The American Worldview Inventory, led by researcher George Barna, reveals that only 10 percent of U.S. adults meet the evangelical definition as per the National Association of Evangelicals.

This definition includes those who acknowledge their sinful nature, trust in Jesus Christ for redemption, and seek to live under His lordship, guided by biblical wisdom.

This 10 percent translates to roughly 25 to 30 million Americans, a far cry from the figures often reported by the media. According to the study, evangelicals are fewer in number, less biblically minded, and less politically active than previously believed.

Contrasting with a 2015 Pew study that claimed 25.4 percent of U.S. adults were evangelical Protestants, the new report paints a different demographic picture. Evangelicals, as described in the survey, are generally older, with a median age of 54, predominantly white (74 percent), and more likely to be married to their first spouse. They are also less likely to identify as LGBTQ or to have been involved in an abortion.

Geographically, evangelicals are concentrated in the southern states (52 percent) and are less prevalent in the Northeast and West. The report highlights the discrepancy in evangelical statistics, often inflated by self-identification. The survey points out that many Americans who label themselves as “born-again” or “evangelical” may not adhere strictly to the theological definitions.

“Media reports commonly cite that anywhere from 25 percent to as many as 40 percent of American adults are evangelicals,” the report notes. “But those figures are suspect.”

This survey prompts a reevaluation of the evangelical presence in America, suggesting their influence might not be as widespread as once thought.