Retired pastors' struggles after retirement
Percent of retired pastors, 2025 (in percent)
Key finding
Highest: Had to rethink their sense of value and worth (39%). Lowest: Had to consider their value to God (27%).
- Had to rethink their sense of value and worth: 39%
- Have struggled with the adjustment: 33%
- Feel a lack of purpose since retirement: 28%
Source: Lifeway Research, 9 Reminders for Ministry After Retirement · Lifeway Research study of retired pastors. Article published 2025-09-22.
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Questions about this statistic
What does this statistic show?
Highest: Had to rethink their sense of value and worth (39%). Lowest: Had to consider their value to God (27%). Had to rethink their sense of value and worth: 39%. Have struggled with the adjustment: 33%. Feel a lack of purpose since retirement: 28%.
Who published this data?
Lifeway Research, 2025. Source: Lifeway Research, 9 Reminders for Ministry After Retirement (https://research.lifeway.com/2025/09/22/9-reminders-for-ministry-after-retirement/).
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About this data
Leader Insights collects statistics about U.S. churches from published research by organizations such as Lifeway Research, Barna Group, Springtide, the American Bible Society and PRRI. Every number is checked against the wording of the original source before it is published, and each statistic links back to the study it came from. Figures are reproduced from the publishers named above; see the source for full methodology.