Bible sales skyrocket among increasingly religious Gen Z

Sales of the Bible have risen greatly in the UK across the last five years among a spiritually-curious Generation Z, recent figures have shown.

Figures collated by publishers SPCK Group using transactional information from Nielsen Book Data found a staggering 87% increase in national Bible sales between 2019 and 2024 (from £2.69 million to £5.02 million).

Nielsen also noted that sales of the correlating category of ‘Bibles and liturgy’ had twice increased, from £5 million in 2008 to £7 million in 2019, and then to £8.1 million in 2024.

A 6% fall in overall non-fiction sales was recorded between 2023 and 2024, while fiction sales continue to rise.

The perceived stereotype of younger generations moving away from religious conviction was […] opposed in a recent OnePoll study which found Generation Z  (13%) to be nearly half as likely to identify as atheists than Generation X (25%)

While these studies speak of the increasing appeal of faith and scripture among Brits of all ages, a specific correlation regarding the spiritual devotion of ‘Gen Z’ (those born between 1997 and 2012) has been noted by the Bible Society.

The organisation said that its 2018 Good News Bible – The Youth Edition was “by far our most popular [edition]”.

The Youth Edition features infographics, extra explanations, and writing space designed to help younger readers explore the Bible in a personal and thoughtful manner.

The perceived stereotype of younger generations moving away from religious conviction was also opposed in a recent OnePoll study which found Generation Z  (13%) to be nearly half as likely to identify as atheists than Generation X (25%).

Millennials also sat below Generation X at 20%, backing up a continued theme of younger generations exploring religious convictions and returning to positions of faith.

‘Events like the Covid-19 pandemic and the mental health crisis,’ said [SPCK Chief Executive Sam] Richardson, have led many to ‘think deeply about their spirituality’

The same survey found that 62% of 18 to 24-year-olds considered themselves to be ‘very’ or ‘fairly’ spiritual compared to just 35% of those aged 65 or older.

Sam Richardson, Chief Executive of the Christian charity SPCK, attributed this to “a significant cultural shift regarding matters of faith and religion”.

“Events like the Covid-19 pandemic and the mental health crisis”, said Richardson, have led many to “think deeply about their spirituality” and want to “draw their own conclusions by reading Christian books in general and the Bible in particular”.