Are young people less religious?

The trends in religious behaviour of young people (in this case those aged 15-29) can be a barometer of the religious direction of nations. There are several ways to define if someone is religious, but this analysis focuses on self-reported attendance at religious services. The principal data source is the World Values Survey, a multi-wave investigation initiated in 1981 which covered 62 countries in the latest round. In the majority of countries, older people do participate in religion more than younger people. However, that pattern is not universal and this study highlights the countries where the general pattern does not hold. Levels of participation of young people in religion have varied widely over the past quarter century. Some countries have seen major declines - some from a high base, others from an already low base - while others have experienced stability or substantial increases. The characteristics of different types of country patterns will be described, with respect to overall participation rates, majority religion, male/female differentials and growth v. decline in religiosity.