What This Site Is
The Moral Decay Index is an independent, data-driven publication that tracks social health indicators in the United States. We exist to cut through ideological noise and report honestly on what the data shows about family formation, community health, public safety, civic engagement, and public health in America.
We don’t take political sides. We take data seriously.
What We Track
We track eight key indicators of social and community health in America:
- Church attendance and religious participation — a proxy for social capital and community cohesion
- Marriage rates — the primary institution for stable family formation
- Non-marital birth rates — a strong predictor of child poverty and intergenerational mobility
- Violent crime rates — the most direct measure of public safety
- Media and institutional trust — the epistemic foundation of democratic governance
- Civic knowledge — the informational prerequisites of informed citizenship
- Drug overdose deaths — a measure of community despair and public health failure
- Social capital — the network of civic associations and neighborly relationships that hold communities together
Each indicator is scored based on research benchmarks and updated regularly as new data is published by the CDC, FBI, Gallup, Pew Research Center, and other established sources.
Our Methodology
Every data point on this site cites its primary source. Every claim is grounded in peer-reviewed research or official government data. Where researchers disagree about causes or interpretations, we acknowledge the disagreement and present multiple perspectives.
We do not attribute complex social trends to single political causes. We do not cherry-pick data to confirm a predetermined narrative. When the data shows improvement, we report improvement. When it shows deterioration, we report that.
Why the Name?
“Moral Decay Index” is a deliberately serious name. Many social scientists use similar language — “social deterioration,” “civilizational decline,” “deaths of despair” — to describe measurable trends in community health. We use “moral decay” because it takes seriously the possibility that societies can decline on dimensions that matter, while subjecting that possibility to rigorous empirical testing rather than ideological assertion.
The name is a commitment to asking hard questions honestly.
Who Runs This Site
The Moral Decay Index is an independent publication focused on social health, family policy, and civic life in America. This site does not represent any political party, think tank, religious organization, or advocacy group.
Contact
For questions, corrections, data inquiries, or media requests, please visit the Contact page.
A Note on Corrections
If you believe any data or claim on this site is inaccurate, please contact us with the specific claim and the contrary evidence. We are committed to correcting errors promptly and transparently. Corrections are noted at the bottom of the relevant article.