Study: Black Millennials Are More Religious Than Their Millennial Peers

When it comes to religion, black millennials emerge above their peers in this generation.

In fact, based on several benchmarks, African American millennials are appreciably more religious than others in their age group, a new Pew Research Center analysis reveals.

In recent years, a number of Pew Research Center surveys have shown that Millennials in the United States—young adults born between 1981 and 1996—are generally less religious than older Americans, based on our core measures of religious commitment. This holds true for black people, in that black Millennials tend to be less religious than older blacks. That said, black Millennials are considerably more religious than others in their generation, reads the study.

Nearly 61% of black millennials report that they pray at least daily, much greater than 39% of nonblack millennials responding. Some 38% of black millennials say they attend religious services at least once a week, while only 25% of other millennials do.

About 64% of black millennials are highly religious on a four-item scale of religious commitment—including belief in God, the self-described importance of religion, prayer, and worship attendance—versus 39% of nonblack millennials.

Concurrently, black millennials are far less likely than older black Americans when it comes to praying at least daily. They also are less likely than older blacks to attend religious services at least weekly.

Further, African American millennials are more likely to read scripture when not in religious services than nonblack millennials. Some 61% of black millennials said they feel a deep sense of spiritual peace and well-being at least weekly versus 50% of nonblack millennials.

Additionally, black millennials are more likely to believe in heaven than their non-black peers. But black millennials are no less likely than older blacks to retain this belief.

All groups surveyed are about equal when it comes to feeling a deep sense of wonder about the universe.