U.S. Church Attendance Rises for First Time in 25 Years

Church attendance in the United States has recorded its first increase in 25 years, according to a new national study examining the condition of American congregations after the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The study, conducted by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research in collaboration with Faith Communities Today, found that the median in-person worship attendance at U.S. congregations increased to 70 people in 2025. That compares with a median of 65 before the pandemic and represents the first positive movement in the measure since the research project began tracking congregations in 2000.

The research was based on responses from 7,453 congregations representing 79 denominations and faith traditions. Researchers described the findings as evidence of a rebound in congregational life, although they stressed that the recovery has not been uniform across the country.

The increase comes after years of declining participation and the major disruption caused by the pandemic, which forced churches and other religious institutions to suspend or dramatically change in-person worship.

The new report found that congregations have also seen improvements in other areas. Volunteer participation has returned to pre-pandemic levels, with about 40% of congregants reported to be volunteering regularly. In addition, 58% of congregational leaders said they believed their congregations were stronger than they were before the pandemic.

Despite the encouraging attendance figures, researchers cautioned against describing the development as a nationwide religious revival. The gains have been uneven, with some Mainline Protestant churches continuing to experience significant attendance declines while smaller congregations remain under pressure.

The study also suggested that some of the growth may reflect people moving between congregations rather than a broad increase in the number of Americans participating in religious worship. Researchers therefore described the current period as a process of recalibration rather than a clear-cut revival.

Other national data also point to a more complicated picture. Gallup reported that 31% of U.S. adults said they attended religious services weekly or nearly weekly in 2025, while 57% said they seldom or never attended. Gallup said the long-term trend still shows declining regular attendance and increasing nonattendance.

The latest findings therefore suggest that while individual congregations are beginning to see signs of recovery, the broader American religious landscape remains in transition.