Fewer Than Half of Americans Now Believe in the Virgin Birth, Survey Finds
American Bible Society's State of the Bible 2026 puts belief at 49%, down from 73% in 2014 — yet 62% believe in the supernatural, and practicing Christians report answered prayer and healing at striking rates
The short answer
According to the American Bible Society's State of the Bible 2026 report — a survey of 2,649 Americans conducted 8–27 January 2026, reported by The Christian Post — 49% of Americans believe Jesus' virgin birth is at least probably true, down from 66% in 2017 and 73% in 2014. 62% believe in the supernatural, 53% believe in Jesus' resurrection and 44% believe God parted the Red Sea; among practicing Christians, 97% believe in the virgin birth and 99% in the resurrection.
For the first time in the American Bible Society's long-running research, fewer than half of Americans say Jesus was born of a virgin.
The Numbers
The State of the Bible 2026 report — the 16th annual edition, based on a survey of 2,649 Americans conducted 8–27 January 2026 — found that 49% of Americans believe the virgin birth is at least probably true. That figure was 66% in 2017 and 73% in 2014.
"Belief in the virgin birth has fallen from 73% to 49% of Americans since 2014 — but 62% still believe in the supernatural, and practicing Christians overwhelmingly report answered prayer. The ground is shifting, not closing."
Click to copy and shareOther findings:
- 62% of Americans — about 171 million people — believe in the supernatural.
- 53% believe Jesus rose from the dead.
- 44% believe God parted the Red Sea.
Practicing Christians Tell a Different Story
Among practicing Christians, belief barely moves: 97% believe in the virgin birth, 99% in the resurrection and 92% in the parting of the Red Sea. And their experience of the supernatural is not theoretical: 90% report answered prayer, 69% say they have experienced divine healing, and 58% report experiencing spiritual attack.
"Most of our neighbors sense that our lives are more than a material" existence, said John Farquhar Plake, the American Bible Society's chief innovation officer, and they "are seeking answers in diverse ways."
How to Read It
Two things are true at once. Confidence in specific biblical claims is falling across the general population — a 24-point drop on the virgin birth in about a decade is not small. And spiritual openness has not disappeared: most Americans still believe there is more to life than the material, and more than half believe in the resurrection.
That combination looks a lot like the world the apostles walked into: people curious about the spiritual, unconvinced about Jesus. It's also why the 2026 data on whether Christianity is growing or declining is genuinely mixed rather than simply bad.
Why the Virgin Birth Matters
The virgin birth isn't a decorative detail. Matthew and Luke both report it plainly (Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38), and it carries the claim at the heart of Christmas: that God Himself became one of us, "Immanuel — which means 'God with us'" (Matthew 1:23). With Advent seven weeks away, this is a good season to be ready to explain it — gently, as 1 Peter 3:15 asks.
Belief in the virgin birth has fallen from 73% to 49% of Americans since 2014 — but 62% still believe in the supernatural, and practicing Christians overwhelmingly report answered prayer. The ground is shifting, not closing.
Biblical Perspective
Matthew and Luke both record the virgin birth as historical fact (Matthew 1:18–25; Luke 1:26–38), tying it to Isaiah's sign of Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14). Peter calls believers to "always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have" — and to do it "with gentleness and respect" (1 Peter 3:15).
""The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us")."
— Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
Pray With Us
Lord Jesus, You are Immanuel, God with us. Open the eyes of our neighbours who sense there is more to life but don't yet know You. Give Your church confidence in Your Word and gentleness in how we share it. Prepare hearts this Advent to hear the good news of Your coming. Amen.
Declarations to Speak
- ›Jesus is Immanuel — God with us!
- ›God's Word stands, whatever the polls say!
- ›Spiritual hunger is an open door for the gospel!
Take Action
- 1Read Matthew 1 and Luke 1 this week and note what each emphasises.
- 2Ask a friend what they believe about Jesus — and listen before you answer.
- 3Plan one Advent conversation or invitation now, seven weeks out.
"Fewer than half of Americans now believe in the virgin birth — but 62% believe in the supernatural. What the State of the Bible 2026 data means."
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Your Prayers & Words Have Power
Every time you pray over a story and speak life, you are partnering with Heaven to see God's Kingdom come on earth. When believers around the world agree in prayer, mountains move. Keep praying over these matters — your consistency in intercession is changing the world.
"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much." — James 5:16
Prayer Is Powerful — So Is Action.
You've prayed. Now take it further. Join or start an outreach group in your area and take the love of Jesus to the streets. Every act of love, every meal shared, every prayer prayed in person is the Kingdom advancing in your community.
"Faith without works is dead." — James 2:26
Questions people are asking
What percentage of Americans believe in the virgin birth?
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According to the American Bible Society's State of the Bible 2026 report, 49% of Americans believe Jesus' virgin birth is at least probably true, down from 66% in 2017 and 73% in 2014.
What else did State of the Bible 2026 find?
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It found that 62% of Americans believe in the supernatural, 53% believe in Jesus' resurrection and 44% believe God parted the Red Sea. Among practicing Christians, 97% believe in the virgin birth, 99% in the resurrection, 90% report answered prayer and 69% report experiencing divine healing.
Sources & further reading
- 1.American belief Jesus was born of a virgin falls below 50% for first time: studyThe Christian Post
About the Author
Daniel Ziedins
Founder & Editor-in-Chief
Daniel Ziedins is the founder and editor-in-chief of Thy Kingdom News. A passionate believer with a heart for revival, missions, and seeing God's Kingdom advance across the earth, Daniel created this platform to report on what God is doing in the nations — the stories the mainstream media won't tell. He is also the creator of LoveOnTheWorldMap.com, a global initiative to map acts of God's love worldwide. Daniel believes that every testimony, every revival report, and every prayer answered is evidence that the Kingdom of God is here and advancing.
""The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" (which means "God with us")."
Matthew 1:23 (NIV)
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