I think there's probably the same number of people who don't believe in god, or don't believe in god the way their religion describes him. We of our generation are just more able to talk about these things. When I think of people of the older generation I've known, a lot of them didn't follow any particular religion but didn't come out and say that they were atheists. That just wasn't acceptable. I know at least one relative who wasn't allowed to talk to us kids about religion, because he didn't believe and my family didn't want him influencing us. It makes me wonder how many other atheists I knew personally and just didn't know that about them. It's also a lot easier for people like us to connect with each other via the internet. Coming from a very religious background I never met another atheist until I came online. It used to be that religion was one of those things that you didn't talk about in polite company to avoid starting an argument. As it became more and more tied up in politics, people identified with their religion more publicly as a show of political strength. While this made religion more prominent in public life, eventually the non-religious had to speak up as well, and so we're having a lot more conversations out in the open now that would never have happened years ago. (ps. I'm totally sorry if this answer doesn't make much sense, I'm home sick today and feeling kind of loopy. I'll probably have to come back and edit this answer.. lol.)

more and more do they open their eyes truely for the first time

I believe it is because being an atheists is easier than being a believer, the world today doesnt want to be obedient to anything, wants only what feels good, want to do what they want and dont want anyone telling them they are wrong for doing certain things. It is what is wrong with society today ... LOST!

  i think more of them are Agnostics than Atheists.   ag·nos·ti·cism 1. The doctrine that certainty about first principles or absolute truth is unattainable and that only perceptual phenomena are objects of exact knowledge. 2. The belief that there can be no proof either that God exists or that God does not exist.     From my chosen path i stray, Yet my God ne'er turns away; For i have learned -- and understand, That where God is -- is where i am!  

I don't think there's more, but I do think they are more vocal and are getting more attention than previous generations. Part of it is also the move away from established religion in general that has been going on for many years- but not necessarily to atheism. Truth be told, Christianity- at least, Biblical Christianity- has never really had a lead, if that's what you're refering to. Just because church attendance is up doesn't mean hearts are in the right places; look at the excesses of the medieval church or the real lack of teaching in many churches in the US in the 1950's. It's just now people feel freer to show who they want to be, instead of feeling forced to belong to a church.