The proportion of people in the US who profess to be “absolutely certain” of the existence of God has dropped steeply.
In the seven years from 2007 to 2014, the percentage has fallen from 71% to 63%.
But the percentage of Americans who say they still believe in God remains high at 89%, although it has reduced modestly over those years from 92%.
Despite the decline, those professing religious believe is still remarkably high compared to other advanced industrial countries.
The major study was conducted by the specialist Pew Research Center which interviewed more than 35,000 individuals.
More than three-quarters (77%) of American adults identify with religious faith and remain just as observant and committed as in 2007. The faiths cover a broad variety of Protestants as well as Catholics, Jews, Mormons, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus and others.
But among them are a growing number who are religious but not affiliated with any particular group (23% up from 16% in 2007).
Older Americans are more religious with 60% of the 60+ age group praying daily compared to 40% of the youngest adults.
The result, says the research, is an “overall adult US population which has become slightly less religious”.
