U.S. Bible reading surges this year, especially among younger generations

Americans are turning back to the Bible for guidance, according to new research from the Barna Group.

Weekly Bible reading overall has climbed to 42 percent, up 12 points from a 15-year low of 30 percent in 2024. Among self-identified Christians, the rate is 50 percent, which is the highest level in more than a decade. Young adults are driving this surge, with nearly half now engaging with scripture weekly.

• Millennials jumped an unprecedented 16 points, reaching 50 percent who now say they read the Bible weekly.
• Gen Z mirrors this pattern, rising from 30 percent to 49 percent in just one year.
• Boomers, who consistently held the highest levels of Bible reading, now show the lowest levels of weekly Bible reading of all generations at 31 percent.
• Gen X has held steadier, now rebounding to 41 percent. This comes at a time when digital Bible engagement has made it easier for younger generations to engage with Scripture

The YouVersion family of Bible apps has reported multiple days of record engagement throughout the year and will celebrate one billion installs this month, a milestone reached years faster than anticipated.

“Bible reading is rising again across generations, marking a reset to faith engagement levels we haven’t seen in a decade,” said David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group. “People aren’t just curious about faith — they’re opening scripture for themselves. This trend aligns with other signs of renewal we’ve seen in our research, like growing commitments to Jesus and increased church attendance.”

The data also reveal a striking reversal in gender patterns. Although women historically been more likely to read the Bible weekly, 2025 data show that younger men are now reading the Bible more than younger women. Weekly Bible reading rates are 54 percent for Gen Z men and 57 percent for millennial men, compared to 46 percent for Gen Z women and 43 percent for millennial women.

Although more Americans are reading the Bible, findings show that fewer hold strong beliefs about the Bible’s accuracy. In 2000, 43 percent strongly agreed that the Bible is totally accurate in the principles it teaches. This number fell below 40 percent in recent years but now sits at 36 percent. Even among self-identified Christians, only 44 percent strongly affirm the Bible’s accuracy.

–Alan Goforth