Religion: The vast majority of young people believe in God although most do not go to Mass, the poll shows.
Some 86 per cent believe in God and 14 per cent do not. Religious belief is marginally stronger among females (88 per cent) than males (84 per cent). It is highest in Connacht/Ulster (93 per cent) and lowest in Dublin (82 per cent), standing at 88 per cent in Munster and 83 per cent in Leinster excluding Dublin. Overall it is 93 per cent in rural areas compared to 82 per cent in urban areas.
Belief in God declines somewhat with age, falling from 89 per cent among 15- to 17-year-olds to 87 per cent among 18- to 22-year- olds to 81 per cent among 23- to 24-year-olds. It is strongest among those from farming backgrounds (95 per cent) compared to 86 per cent in the C2DE group and 84 per cent among the better off ABC1 category.
However, just 44 per cent go to Mass, 55 per cent do not and 1 per cent did not say. There are marked regional differences with 59 per cent of young people in Connacht/Ulster going to Mass compared to just 30 per cent of Dubliners. Some 48 per cent of females go compared to 41 per cent of males. Children of farmers have a Mass attendance rate of 72 per cent, far higher than average. In contrast 45 per cent of the ABC1 group go and 38 per cent of the C2DE group do so.
Mass attendance falls steeply with age, with 59 per cent of the 15- to 17-year-olds going, 40 per cent of those aged 18 to 19 and 38 per cent of those 20 to 24. This is partly explained by the finding that 36 per cent of the 15 to 17 group who go to Mass do so because their parents make them rather than because they want to. Some 63 per cent go because they want to with 1 per cent not saying.
The older Massgoers get, the more they go out of choice. Among 18- to 19-year-olds who go to Mass 80 per cent go because they want to, 17 per cent because their parents make them and 1 per cent did not say.
Among 20- to 22-year-olds 81 per cent go because they choose to, 17 per cent because their parents make them and 3 per cent did not say.
Among the oldest 23 to 24 group 90 per cent go because they want to, 5 per cent because their parents make them and 4 per cent did not say.
A higher proportion of male than female Massgoers attend because they are compelled to by their parents. Some 69 per cent of males attend out of choice, 30 per cent because their parents make them and 1 per cent do not say. In contrast 81 per cent of female Massgoers attend out of choice, 16 per cent because their parents make them and 3 per cent did not say.
Half of the young believers do not go to Mass, with exactly 50 per cent going and 50 per cent not. Some 7 per cent who don't believe in God nevertheless go to Mass, reflecting parental pressure to attend.