Bible app usage has surged into 2026, highlighting a broader rise in digital engagement with Christianity across multiple regions. YouVersion, the world’s most widely used Bible app, passed one billion cumulative downloads in late 2025, marking a significant milestone for faith-based digital platforms.
According to figures released by YouVersion, the app family reached the one-billion-download threshold in November 2025. Since then, the apps have been opened roughly one billion times every 39 to 40 days, reflecting sustained daily engagement rather than one-off installs.
The platform also reported record-breaking momentum earlier in the year. On January 5, 2025, YouVersion recorded nearly 800,000 installs in a single day—the highest daily total in its history. Overall global installs rose more than 12 per cent year-on-year by late 2025, while daily usage increased by approximately 18 per cent.
The fastest growth has been recorded in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, regions where smartphone access is expanding rapidly. YouVersion data shows activity increases of around 198 per cent in Ethiopia, 94 per cent in Egypt, and 166 per cent across the Middle East over the past year.
To support users in areas with limited connectivity, the company has expanded lightweight and offline-friendly options such as Bible App Lite, alongside additional language support and localised content.
Younger Christians are a major driver of the shift toward digital Scripture. Research indicates that 59 per cent of Gen Z Christians who read the Bible do so through an app, with others engaging via podcasts and social media platforms.
User behaviour data also suggests that many new users encounter the app while searching for emotional or spiritual support. Common search terms leading to downloads include words such as “anxiety,” “fear,” and “hope,” rather than explicitly religious terms.
Analysts and faith leaders have linked the growth in Bible app usage to a wider search for meaning during a period of global uncertainty. Economic pressures, geopolitical instability and social change have contributed to what some describe as a renewed interest in spiritual grounding and personal faith.
This digital trend appears to align with renewed interest in physical Scripture as well. In 2025, print Bible sales rose between 11 per cent and 41.6 per cent in several markets, with industry analysts projecting sales could reach a 20-year high in 2026.
Industry estimates indicate Bible sales increased by roughly 11–15 per cent year on year in 2025, with about 18 million copies sold in the United States alone. The growth followed a strong 2024, when sales rose an estimated 20–22 per cent compared with 2023.
“Sales for Bibles have been steadily growing in the U.S. since 2021 and have set unprecedented annual records since 2022,” said Brenna Connor, an industry analyst at Circana BookScan. She said 2024 marked a 20-year high, with 2025 on track to exceed those levels.
The rise occurred as overall U.S. print book sales remained flat or declined slightly. Analysts have linked Bible sales growth to increased interest among younger readers and heightened social and political uncertainty.
The trend aligns with research suggesting renewed engagement with Christianity among younger generations. A recent Barna Group study found church attendance among Gen Z and Millennial adults is increasing, with younger adults now attending more regularly than older generations for the first time in decades.
Similar patterns have been reported in the United Kingdom. The Bible Society’s Quiet Revival report, conducted with YouGov, found church attendance has increased by around 50 per cent over six years, driven largely by growth among adults aged 18–24.
Barna Group researchers said that if current trends continue, younger generations could play a decisive role in shaping the future of Christianity. “The data points to a future where the vitality of the Church may hinge on how well leaders engage the spiritual curiosity and commitments of younger adults,” the group said.
