A new Barna report has revealed a significant shift in church attendance trends, showing that men, particularly among Generation X and Millennials, are now attending church more frequently than women. According to Barna’s State of the Church initiative, 43% of men reported attending church weekly in 2025, compared to 36% of women.
“Across every generation, women are trailing men in weekly church attendance, especially among Gen X and Millennials,” researchers stated.
This marks the largest gender attendance gap Barna has ever recorded, reversing a long-standing trend from the early 2000s when women outpaced men in church participation.
David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group, commented, “When women see repeated examples of moral failure, abuse, or hypocrisy in church leadership, it deepens their disillusionment.” Researchers pointed to factors including career demands, cultural shifts, and a perceived mismatch with church structures.
