A new YouGov tracker shows belief in God among 18- to 24-year-olds in the United Kingdom has surged to 45% as of January 2025, up from just 16% in August 2021. The jump reverses decades of decline and marks what researchers describe as one of the most pronounced generational shifts in religious identification in recent British history. The rise in faith is translating into higher church attendance. Two YouGov surveys indicate the share of adults who attend services at least once a month climbed to 12% in 2024 from 8% in 2018, lifting the estimated monthly congregation to about 5.8 million people from 3.7 million. The increase is most pronounced among young men, whose regular attendance has grown five-fold over the same period. Growth is reshaping the denominational landscape. Since 2018 the Anglican Church’s share of worshippers has fallen to 34% from 41%, while Roman Catholic attendance has risen to 31% from 23% and Pentecostal participation has expanded to 10% from 4%. Retail data from Nielsen BookScan show U.K. Bible sales almost doubled in five years, reaching roughly $6.8 million in 2024. Sociologists link the revival to post-pandemic uncertainty, economic pressures and a broader openness to spirituality among Generation Z: more than half of young adults report engaging in some form of spiritual practice in the past six months. Whether the trend endures will depend on how religious institutions respond to the expectations of this emerging cohort.
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