Latter-day Saint retention rates decline, but members remain among America’s most religious

Latter-day Saints continue to stand out as one of the most religious groups in the United States, according to a new Pew Research Center study. The survey, which interviewed 565 current members and 316 former members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from July 2023 to March 2024, found that nearly 70% of Latter-day Saints rate their family lives as excellent or very good. This places them among the most likely Americans of faith to hold such positive views about their family lives.

The study also highlights the ongoing religiosity of Latter-day Saints, noting that they pray more frequently and attend church more regularly than members of other religious groups. Despite these positive trends, the research reveals a decline in retention rates, with the percentage of members who remain in the church falling from 70% in 2007 to 54% in 2023-24. This decline aligns with broader national trends of secularization.

Among the demographic shifts noted, the proportion of white Latter-day Saints has decreased from 85% to 72% since 2007, while the Hispanic membership has more than doubled, rising from 6% to 12%. These changes reflect the growing diversity within the church’s membership.

The survey also found that married Latter-day Saints are more likely than members of other religious groups to be married to someone of the same faith, with an 87% rate of same-faith spouses. This statistic underscores the strong emphasis on family and faith within the church’s teachings.

Despite the decline in retention rates, the church continues to set records for new converts and missionary activity. The Pew Research Center, which conducted the study, emphasizes its role as a nonpartisan, nonadvocacy organization focused on providing factual insights into societal trends. The findings offer a snapshot of the church’s evolving landscape in the United States.

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