By Mallory Mattingly
For the first time in decades, men lead the charge in church attendance, “significantly outpacing women.”
Barna’s State of the Church initiative with Gloo reported on the shifting demographics, finding that in 2025, “43 percent of men and 36 percent of women report attending church regularly, based on reported weekly attendance. In five of the last six years, men have outpaced women in this key measure of religious engagement, and the 2025 gap is the largest measured.”
More specifically, married dads attend church the most regularly, while single mothers have the lowest weekly attendance rates.
So why are women checking out of church? Barna suggests:
- Increased burdens of work and caregiving: “Instead of being a place of sanctuary and spiritual renewal, church often adds to the already full plate of demands on women’s lives.”
- Changing social dynamics: “With more women delaying marriage or remaining single, they often feel isolated in congregations that cater to nuclear families.”
- Cultural mismatch: “Some researchers suggest the decline in women’s church attendance may stem from a growing disconnect between traditional, hierarchical church structures and the values of younger women—many of whom now identify as liberal politically.”
- Church culture and leadership failures: “High-profile scandals involving male church leaders, along with toxic teaching and exclusionary practices, have eroded trust—especially among women.”
Related: Generation Z Is Less Promiscuous Than Millennials According to New Research
“When women see repeated examples of moral failure, abuse, or hypocrisy in church leadership, it deepens their disillusionment,” explained David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group.
While women’s attendance has declined, Gen Z’s overall interest in church is on the rise.
“Gen Z churchgoers (ages 18–28) now average 1.9 services per month while millennials (ages 29–44) come in at 1.8 times. That comes out to roughly 23 visits a year for Gen Z and 22 for millennials,” Deseret News reported.
“This data represents good news for church leaders and adds to the picture that spiritual renewal is shaping Gen Z and Millennials today,” Daniel Copeland, Barna’s vice president of research, revealed, per Fox News Digital.
But what exactly is driving young men specifically to church? Dr Cory Marsh, a professor of New Testament at Southern California Seminary, pointed to the “virtual world run by algorithms and dating apps.”
They “are seeking something real,” he said, emphasizing, “Churches should respond to the current trend by modeling grace and truth, without elevating one above the other.”
USA Today reported that millions of people, including celebrities like Chris Pratt and Joe Rogan, are “flocking back to church.”
“For all the flaws of broken people and broken churches. I still believe that the church is good for me – and for you,” said Ed Stetzer, a dean and professor at Biola University.
More time and research will tell the reasons for the dramatic shift in men’s church attendance, but one thing is for certain: they are hungry for God.
Read Next: Church Attendance Skyrockets After Charlie Kirk’s Murder
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