A growing number of young women raised in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are leaving the faith. Research indicates that women are now more likely to leave the church than men, particularly among younger demographics.
Ryan Burge’s 2025 Spiritual Seismology Survey found that only about 4 in 10 Gen Z women who grew up LDS are still in the church. For 18-year-old Mormon women, the retention rate was recorded at 37.5%.
Data from the Pew 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study shows a retention difference of 17 points between age groups of women. While two-thirds of women over age 50 have remained members, just under half of younger women have stayed.
Researchers Jana Riess and Benjamin Knoll have identified three primary drivers for this trend, referred to as the three Ps: politics, purity culture, and powerlessness.
Regarding politics, young women are growing more liberal than men. Gallup data shows that the gap between young women and men leaning left has widened from three points 20 years ago to 15 points today. This shift creates discomfort as the church has historically opposed issues supported by this demographic, such as the Equal Rights Amendment, same-sex marriage, and legal access to abortion.
The second driver is a reaction against the purity culture prevalent in the early 2000s. During that era, church magazines provided targeted warnings to teenage girls about immodest dress at a rate six times higher than for boys. Some former members report that this focus on policing the body caused significant anxiety.
Finally, many women report a sense of powerlessness within the church structure. While women have gained more equality in most areas of life, they cannot hold the priesthood, perform certain ordinances like baptizing converts, or make policy decisions within the church.
The church has implemented some recent changes, such as allowing women to serve missions at the same age as men and debuting sleeveless temple garments in 2025. It remains to be seen if these changes will help stem the loss of female members.
