State of the Bible 2025: Surprising Trends in American Scripture Engagement

The American Bible Society has released its 15th annual State of the Bible report, revealing unexpected trends in how Americans interact with Scripture. The 2025 findings show a remarkable turnaround in Bible engagement, with surprising demographic shifts that challenge conventional assumptions about faith and generational differences.

Key Findings: Bible Use on the Rise

Significant Overall Growth

The number of Bible Users has increased this year from 38% to 41%, which translates to 10 million more American adults reading the Bible outside of church a minimum of three times a year. This represents the first increase in several years, reversing a declining trend that had persisted since the pandemic.

The study, based on 2,656 online interviews with American adults across all 50 states conducted in January 2025, reveals that just over half of all Americans (51%) say they wish they read the Bible more, indicating significant interest despite varying levels of actual engagement.

Millennials Leading the Charge

Dramatic Millennial Surge

The most striking finding is the dramatic increase in Bible engagement among millennials. Millennials saw a 29% increase in Bible Use from 2024 to 2025, with their usage jumping from 30% to 39%. This represents a complete reversal from previous years when millennials and men were among the least likely to use the Bible.

People are turning to TikTok and YouTube to find Bible stories, suggesting that millennials are engaging with Scripture through digital platforms that match their media consumption habits. As one expert noted, "Millennials are coming to the end of the education that they've had and they're saying, 'where else can I go to find some of these answers?'"

Men Close the Gender Gap

Historic Shift in Male Engagement

Another significant trend is the surge in Bible use among men. Men saw a 19% increase, closing the long-time gender gap in Bible Use. Since last year, Bible use among men rose from 34% to 41%, with Generation X men showing a particularly dramatic 29% increase.

This narrowing of the traditional gender gap in religious engagement aligns with broader cultural shifts and represents a significant change in long-standing patterns of faith practice.

Digital Engagement Dominates

Technology Transforms Bible Access

The way Americans access the Bible continues to evolve rapidly. One-third of Bible Users access the Bible only in print while two-thirds of Bible Users access the Bible digitally at least some of the time. Among digital users, three out of five digital Bible Users (62%) use Bible apps, with "Bible-based websites" and YouTube being the next most popular options.

Today, two-thirds of Bible users, especially Gen Z, report reading the Bible digitally at least some of the time. Video has become a particularly popular format for engagement.

Deeper Scripture Engagement Growing

Beyond Casual Reading

While Bible use measures basic engagement, the report also tracks "Scripture engagement"—a deeper measure of Bible interaction, impact, and centrality in people's lives. Scripture engagement, a deeper measure of Bible interaction, impact and centrality, also saw an increase in 2025, with growth coming from the two youngest generations.

Specifically, in 2024 only 11% of Gen Z and 12% of Millennials were Scripture Engaged, compared to 15% and 17% respectively in 2025. Beyond casual use, deeper and more consistent engagement is also on the rise. In 2025, one in five Americans are considered "Bible engaged," up from 18% the previous year.

America as Global Outlier

Standing Apart from the Secular West

The report's global perspective reveals America's unique position among developed nations. Only 37 percent of secular west residents say the Bible is personally relevant, save the U.S., an outlier with 51 percent of adults affirming Scripture's relevance to them personally.

When compared to other nations in the "secular west" cluster (Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and New Zealand), America consistently shows higher levels of biblical engagement. While an average of 18 percent of adults in the cluster use the Bible "a few times a week or more," 28 percent of Americans do so.

Curiosity About Faith Remains High

The "Movable Middle" Shows Interest

Despite varying levels of engagement, curiosity about the Bible remains significant. A majority of Americans are curious about the Bible, Jesus or both, with 56% of all Americans and 82% of the Movable Middle expressing curiosity. The "Movable Middle" refers to people who are open to the Bible as a source of spiritual wisdom.

This curiosity extends to younger generations, with close to half (44%) of Gen Z adults reporting being "very/extremely curious about the Bible and/or Jesus", even though their actual engagement levels remain lower than older generations.

What's Driving the Changes?

Searching for Answers

While the report doesn't definitively explain the increases, researchers suggest several contributing factors. Researchers offered no reasons for the increases, but noted a cultural attraction to creative media featuring the lives of people featured in Scripture, such as "The Chosen".

"Maybe the disruptions brought on by parenting have them searching for the timeless wisdom of the Bible. And perhaps they're simply searching for more. Whatever the reason for their newfound interest in the Bible, the question for the church is: How will we welcome them when our friends and neighbors reach for the Bible?"

Looking Ahead

Implications for Churches and Communities

The 2025 State of the Bible report reveals a complex picture of American spirituality. While traditional markers of religious engagement like church attendance continue to decline among younger generations, interest in Scripture itself appears to be growing, particularly when accessed through digital platforms and contemporary media.

For religious communities, these findings suggest both opportunity and challenge. The growing curiosity about biblical content, especially among millennials and men, represents a significant opening for engagement. However, this interest is manifesting in ways that differ from traditional religious participation.

As the American Bible Society prepares to release additional chapters of the report throughout 2025, covering topics like trust in institutions, human flourishing, and church engagement, the full picture of America's evolving relationship with Scripture will continue to emerge. What's already clear is that 2025 represents a turning point in American Bible engagement, with implications that extend far beyond religious communities into broader cultural and social trends.