Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends 2024-Do Christians Read Their Holy Book?

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Do Christians read the Bible in 2024?

How many Christians read the Bible? And how many of them are forgoing the practice for something else?

My updated bible reading statistics guide for 2024 has everything you need to know.

Use this jump link to quickly jump to the KEY STATS section.

Also, all the references and resources I used in crafting my guide are listed at the bottom of the page.

Jump here: Key Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year| Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)

Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends 2024-Do Christians Read Their Holy Book?
Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends 2024-Do Christians Read Their Holy Book?

Key Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year


Key Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024

  • The average Christian owns 9 Bibles but only reads 4 of them regularly.
  • Approximately 88% of American households own a Bible. The average American household has 3 Bibles.
  • About 37% of Americans read the Bible at least once a week. 59% of Americans say they read the Bible occasionally. 20% of Americans say they’ve read the entire Bible at least once. 35% of Americans say they never read the Bible.
  • The most popular Bible translation in the United States is the New International Version (NIV).
  • 57% of Americans believe the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life.
  • Bible sales increased by 12% during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • The YouVersion Bible App has been downloaded over 500 million times worldwide.
  • 68% of Bible readers prefer a print version over digital.
  • The average Bible reader spends 30 minutes in each reading session.
  • 56% of Bible readers say they search for specific verses or passages when reading.
  • The Book of Psalms is the most-read book of the Bible.
  • 29% of Bible readers say they’ve read through the entire Bible in sequence.
  • 63% of Bible readers say they feel more at peace after reading Scripture.
  • 42% of Millennials read the Bible at least three times a week.
  • The Bible has been translated into more than 2,500 languages.
  • 59% of Americans believe the Bible has too little influence on society.
  • 58% of Bible readers use a smartphone or tablet to access Bible content.
  • The average age when most people first read the Bible is 9 years old. 9 years old is fairly early to be reading such a profound book. But it’s actually parents reading and discuss with their children the easier parts of the book.
  • 68% of Christians who read the Bible regularly say it greatly influences their views on social issues.
  • 87% of Bible readers say they feel encouraged after reading Scripture.
  • 66% of Bible readers say they’ve increased their Bible study and reading in the past year.
  • The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion copies sold. There are 2x more Bibles than Christians (~2.5 billion).
  • 90% of regular Bible readers say it helps them feel closer to God.
  • 52% of Bible readers say they prefer to read in the morning.
  • 74% of Americans believe the Bible should be taught in public schools.

Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for This Year (Detailed Info)


What Percentage Of American Households Own A Bible?

Approximately 88% of American households own a Bible. The average American household has 3 Bibles.

The stats above were  about Bible ownership, but the stats below are all about Bible readership in the US.

About 37% of Americans read the Bible at least once a week. 59% of Americans say they read the Bible occasionally. 20% of Americans say they’ve read the entire Bible at least once. 35% of Americans say they never read the Bible and neither do they encourage their kids to start reading it.

The most popular Bible translation in the United States is the New International Version (NIV).  57% of Americans believe the Bible contains everything a person needs to know to live a meaningful life. 59% of Americans believe the Bible has too little influence on society and would like to see that changed in the future, and sooner rather than later.

How Did Bible Sales Change During The COVID-19 Pandemic?

Bible sales increased by 12% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of the sales were of digital copies of the book given it was hard to move around during the extended quarantine periods.

What Percentage Of Bible Readers Have Read Through The Entire Bible In Sequence?

29% of Bible readers say they’ve read through the entire Bible in sequence. However, 56% of Bible readers say they search for specific verses or passages when reading with the Book of Psalms being the most-read book of the Bible.

How Many Bible Readers Use A Smartphone Or Tablet To Access Bible Content?

58% of Bible readers use a smartphone or tablet to access Bible content. That said, 68% of Bible readers prefer a print version over digital if they can get their hands on a physical copy of the Book.

Via the the web Bible readers can access the Scriptures in more than 2, 500 languages (note: the Bible has been translated into more than 2,500 languages).

And whether holding the book in their hands, or browsing it digitally, the average Bible reader reads it 3 days in any given week and spends roughly 30 minutes in each reading session.

At What Average Age Do Most People First Read The Bible?

The average age when most people first read the Bible is 9 years old. 9 years old is fairly early to be reading such a profound book. But my guess is that it’s actually parents reading and discuss with their children the easier parts of the book.

What Percentage Of Bible Readers Say They’ve Increased Their Bible Reading In The Past Year?

66% of Bible readers say they’ve increased their Bible reading in the past year. 68% of Christians who read the Bible regularly say it greatly influences their views on social issues and it also helps them feel more empathetic to their fellow men and women.

How Many Copies Of The Bible Are Estimated To Have Been Sold?

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time, with an estimated 5 billion copies sold. There are 2x more Bibles than Christians (~2.5 billion).

What Time Of Day Do Most Bible Readers Prefer To Read?

52% of Bible readers say they prefer to read in the morning. 90% of regular Bible readers say it helps them feel closer to God. I think this is because of you wake up early enough you’ll find that at dawn everything is still and the only thing you can hear is happy bird chirping. Stillness, calmness and profound meaning of the start of a new day make it a holy moment and also a perfect time to read the Bible.

On Average, How Many Bibles Does A Christian Own And Regularly Read?

The average Christian owns 9 Bibles but only reads 4 of them regularly. The average American household has 3 Bibles. This might mean the average American is less zealous about their faith than the average Christian. It might also mean that outside the US families are larger on average so more Bibles are need for everyone to read.

Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends FAQ for 2024


Bible reading statistics, facts and trends FAQ for 2024
Bible reading statistics, facts and trends FAQ for 2024

Where to Start Reading the Bible to Get Closer to God (for Beginners)?

If you’re new to the Bible, a great place for you to start reading is one of the four canonical gospels made by apostles of Jesus (John, Mark, Matthew and Luke). These four books tell the life story of Jesus Christ, His ministry, His teachings, His miracles, and His acts of compassion and love.

These four books provide a solid foundation for knowing Jesus and growing closer to Him.

If you want to start reading the Bible with the Old Testament, then the Book of Psalms is a great place to start.

How to Start Reading the Bible?

Start slowly when first starting to read the Bible. Hopefully you’ll be acquiring a life-long positive habit so it makes no sense to rush things and make a mistake.

Bible is a wonderful read but you need to get into it slowly and methodically. Start with reading the New Testament because it’s easier to read than the Old Testament. And within the New Testament start with the four canonical gospels as they’re easy to read and full of profound wisdom that will get you thinking.

Why Does the Catholic Church Discourage Bible Reading?

Catholic Church never officially banned Bible reading and nowadays it actively encourages Bible reading among its members.

That said, in previous times things were a little bit different.

In the past the Catholic Church discouraged Bible reading for a number of reasons, including:

  • Protestant authority: the Church believed that Protestants used the Bible to challenge the doctrine and authority of the Catholic Church and its popes.
  • Language: Bibles in medieval times were written in Latin, not the vernacular languages.
  • Index of Prohibited Books: the Christian Church created the Index of Prohibited Books to protect Catholics from the Protestant and secularist dangers.
  • Catholic catechesis: Catholic catechesis included truths that were not directly from the Bible.
  • Authority of the Bible: The Church believed that the Bible was not the only source of revelation about God.

Where Should Women Start Reading the Bible?

There’s no required starting point for women looking to acquire a Bible-reading habit. That said, Christian women globally love reading the Book of Ruth, which tells the story of a Jewish woman who marries an outsider and subsequent reconciliation between their families

The Song of Solomon is another excellent possibility as it features strong female characters and deals with women-centric topics such as love and relationships.

What Does the Bible Say About Reading the Bible?

The Bible says that Bible reading should be public.

Devote yourself to the public reading of Scriptures1 Timothy 4:13.

According to the Bible reading it should never be a private affair. As much as it’s possible Bible reading should be done in public for the benefit of anyone interested in it.

Where to Start Reading the Bible for Couples?

Couples can start reading the Bible together in many places, including:

  • The Gospel of John–  good place to begin; this book is full of imagery and theological truths that can help couples grow in their faith. Other gospels are also excellent to read as a couple.
  • The Book of Proverbs– this is a collection of wise sayings that can help couples grow in wisdom and understanding.
  • The Book of Ephesians– this Bible chapter is full of practical advice for Christian living, especially in marriage.
  • The Psalms– a collection of prayers and hymns that can help couples deepen their spiritual connection. Plus the psalms are some of the most beloved part of the entire Bible.

One more tip– whatever you and your betrothed decide to read, make sure it’s a part of the Bible you both love and enjoy reading. If you want to read the Book of Genesis, but your partner is falling asleep while God is dividing Heaven and Earth and while the snake is convincing Eve to taste of the forbidden fruit, then you better skip that section of the Bible.

Why is Reading the Bible Important?

Reading the Bible is important because the Good Book can teach us valuable moral lessons which we’ll carry throughout our lives. The more morally we live, the happies we’ll be and more fruitful lives we’ll have.

How to Enjoy Reading Your Bible? How to Actually Start Reading the Bible Daily?

First, to enjoy reading the Bible you need to know why you want to start reading it. If you don’t know your deep and intimate “why”, you will struggle with the “how” and your daily Bible reading sessions will be more of a chore than a pleasure.

Second, you need to start slowly and gradually build to the Bible reading time that’s ideal for you and your life’s circumstances.

Start with just 5m of reading per day and then when you feel comfortable, gradually increase to at least 20m per day.

Third, don’t feel bad if you miss a day or two. Don’t feel any guilt because that guilt will prevent you from enjoying your subsequent Bible-reading sessions.

What Percentage Of Millennials Read The Bible? What about Other Generations?

42% of Millennials read the Bible at least three times a week.  38% of Generation X read the Bible at least three times a week. 46% of Baby Boomer read the Bible at least three times a week. Currently there isn’t much information about the percentage of Generation Alpha (Gen Alpha) that reads the Bible

Bible Reading Statistics, Facts and Trends for 2024 (Conclusion)


My updated guide for 2024 lists the best and latest statistics, facts and trends about Bible reading and whether Christians are still devoted to their holy book.

I hope you enjoyed it because the guide is now over.

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References:

Nikola Roza

Nikola Roza is a blogger behind Nikola Roza- SEO for the Poor and Determined. He writes for bloggers who don't have huge marketing budget but still want to succeed. Nikola is passionate about precious metals IRAs and how to invest in gold and silver for a safer financial future. Learn about Nikola here.

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