A recent poll has revealed some surprising trends when it comes to spirituality and religion among young people in the UK.

Teenagers and young adults in their early twenties are much less likely to identify as atheists compared to their parents’ generation.

In fact, people aged 18-24, all of whom belong to Gen Z, are proving to be the most spiritual age group in the country.

Spirituality Is Flourishing Among Gen Z

Despite the overall decline in traditional religious practices, just 13% of Gen Z respondents identified as atheists.

This group, which includes young adults and teenagers, is more likely to describe themselves as “very” or “fairly” spiritual, with a significant 62% giving this response.

This shift is intriguing, as many of them connect their spirituality to wellness and mindfulness, rather than traditional religious rituals.

Interestingly, when asked about the decline in Christianity, many members of Gen Z pointed to the inability to reconcile scandals involving abuse within churches and the natural generational shift in beliefs.

Comparing Spirituality Across Generations

The poll also shed light on the differences in spiritual identification across other age groups.

Middle-aged individuals, particularly those in Gen X (ages 45-60), were the most likely to identify as atheists, with 25% expressing disbelief in any form of spirituality.

Baby Boomers (over 65) and Millennials (25-44) were not far behind, with one in five in these groups claiming to be atheists.

However, a surprising finding came from older generations, particularly those over 65, where only 35% described themselves as “very” or “fairly” spiritual.

In comparison, a higher percentage of those aged 35-44 (52%) and 55-64 (36%) felt similarly.

The Rise of New Forms of Spirituality

Despite young people’s growing interest in spirituality, this doesn’t necessarily translate to a resurgence of traditional religions like Christianity, Islam, or Hinduism in the UK.

Instead, many young people, such as 20-year-old Freya Stewart-Williams from London, are embracing a more modern and eclectic view of spirituality.

Growing up in a Christian family, Freya shared that while she doesn’t feel drawn to believe in God, she senses “something is out there.”

Freya worked in a crystal shop during her teenage years, where she sold gemstones believed to bring healing, calm, or luck.

The shop, which she described as a “spirituality shop,” attracted many customers in their early twenties.

The rise of platforms like TikTok and the growing openness around mental health played a significant role in making spirituality more accessible and accepted.

Shifting Demographics and Religious Trends

In terms of overall religious demographics, the latest poll revealed that 27% of people identified as atheists, 54% as Christian, 6% as Muslim, and 1% each from Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish backgrounds.

Among Christian respondents, only 14% said they worship regularly and accept the authority of their religious leaders.

The most recent census data for England and Wales also indicated a continued drop in the number of Christians in the country, with only 46.2% identifying as Christian.

In contrast, the number of people identifying as Muslim slightly increased, but the largest shift was the rise in individuals identifying as having “no religion.”

This group more than doubled from 15% in 2001 to a remarkable 37.5% in 2021.

As this trend continues, it becomes clear that spirituality is evolving in new and diverse ways, especially for younger generations.