Church Attendance Trends in 2025: What’s Changing, What’s Staying the Same

From Gen Z preferences to post-pandemic shifts and the rise of hybrid worship—here’s what the latest data says about how people show up for church in 2025.

Quick Stats at a Glance

• 40% of U.S. adults say they attend church monthly (Pew, 2025)

• 67% of churches now offer online or hybrid services (Barna, 2025)

• 28% drop in weekly in-person attendance since 2019 (Gallup, 2025)

• 40% of churches under 200 members reported growth last year (Lifeway, 2025)

• 1 in 3 Gen Z prefer small or home-based churches (Springtide, 2025)

Post-Pandemic Patterns Are Now Permanent

2020 changed everything — and in 2025, it’s clear that many of those shifts are here to stay.

Hybrid worship is no longer a backup plan. It’s the new baseline. Churches offering flexible attendance options (both in-person + digital) are outperforming those sticking to in-person only. Attendees increasingly mix and match formats, depending on convenience, health, and schedule.

• Online-only worship has stabilized at ~15–20% of total attendance.

• Many families alternate weeks between live and streamed services.

• Mid-size churches with basic digital infrastructure (streaming, digital check-ins, giving) have seen the highest retention.

In-Person Attendance Is Down — but Engagement Isn’t

Weekly in-person attendance is lower than it was pre-COVID. But equating this with disengagement is a mistake.

Churches that track engagement across channels are seeing stable or even rising participation, just spread out more diffusely:

• Sunday mornings aren’t the only metric.

• Weeknight services, online small groups, and family programming now account for a larger share of church activity.

• Check-in systems and event-based attendance tracking help clarify what “showing up” looks like in 2026.

Gen Z’s Relationship with Church Is Different —  Not Absent 

Gen Z gets a bad rap for disengagement, but the reality is more nuanced.

They’re attending differently — often in smaller, less polished, more relational spaces. According to Springtide’s 2025 study:

• Gen Z prefers authenticity over performance.

• They respond to churches that value service, conversation, and community.

• Many want churches to focus less on buildings and budgets, and more on relevance in their conversations.

 And notably: they’re more likely to attend if invited by a friend or peer, not via marketing or outreach programs.

Small Churches Are Growing Quietly

Despite lower budgets and fewer staff, small churches (under 200 members) are seeing surprising growth — especially in rural and suburban areas.

Commonalities among growing small churches include:

• Personalized welcome experiences

• Clear on-ramps for first-time visitors

• Technology that’s simple but effective (think: self check-in, name tags, SMS follow-up)

Large churches still dominate headlines, but it’s the relational depth in smaller congregations that’s fueling retention.

What’s Next? Flexible Formats and Intentional Design

Churches that are thriving in 2026 are not just riding out change — they’re leaning into it:

• Flexible service times: Saturday evening and weekday services are gaining traction.

• Better data: Attendance, check-ins, and engagement are tracked in real-time.

• Purposeful tech: Simpler tools are being used with more intentionality — from welcome stations to giving platforms.

Final Thought: The New Definition of “Showing Up”

 In 2025, church attendance can’t be measured by a headcount alone.

It’s about showing up — digitally, relationally, and spiritually. Churches that understand this shift — and design with it in mind — are the ones poised to grow.

Looking to add a modern check-in system to your church? Get started with Kidddo today.

Sources 

• Pew Research Center: Religious Landscape Study

• Barna Group: State of the Church

• Springtide Research: The State of Religion & Young People

• Gallup: Religion Data and Trends

• Lifeway Research: Church Growth Statistics