Boulder, Colorado, November 6, 2025
A recent study from the Current Situation of the Church initiative, run by Barna Group and Gloo, indicates that Bible reading among American adults is on the rise. In 2025, 42% of adults reported reading the Bible weekly, which is notably up 12 percentage points from a 15-year low of 30% in 2024. Additionally, the percentage of individuals identifying as Christians stands at 50%, marking the highest level observed in over a decade.
This increase seems largely driven by younger adults, nearly half of whom now engage with the Bible weekly. Millennials have shown a remarkable 16-point increase, with 50% stating they read the Bible each week. Gen Z is also experiencing similar growth, rising from 30% to 49% in just one year. Conversely, baby boomers, traditionally the highest readers, now report a weekly reading rate of 31%, the lowest among the generations. Meanwhile, Gen X shows stability, climbing to 41%. This shift occurs alongside a rise in digital Bible initiatives that facilitate engagement among younger demographics. For instance, the YouVersion family of Bible apps has celebrated several record engagement days this year, achieving 1 billion installs much earlier than anticipated.
“Bible reading is once again gaining traction across generations, resetting levels of faith engagement we haven’t seen in a decade,” stated David Kinnaman, CEO of Barna Group. He noted that people aren’t just interested in faith; they’re actively opening the Bible. This trend aligns with other positive signs of revitalization we’ve observed in our research, including increased church attendance.
The findings also reveal an unexpected shift in gender dynamics. In the past, women have generally been more likely to read the Bible weekly. However, data from 2025 shows that more young men are now engaging with the Bible than young women. Specifically, 54% of Gen Z men and 57% of Millennial men read the Bible weekly, compared to 46% of Gen Z women and 43% of Millennial women.
While more Americans are turning to the Bible, a separate survey indicates a decline in the confidence regarding its accuracy. In 2000, 43% strongly agreed that the Bible’s teachings are completely accurate, but that number has dipped below 40% in recent years, currently sitting at 36%. Among self-identified Christians, only 44% affirm the Bible’s accuracy strongly.
“It’s quite encouraging to see a growing interest in the Bible, particularly among young adults,” commented Brad Hill, Chief Partner Success Officer at Gloo. “Yet, this increased curiosity poses a challenge for church leaders to transform that interest into deeper engagement and practical application. In a world where AI can address life’s big questions, churches must cultivate enduring engagement with Scripture.”
More detailed findings from this month’s report can be accessed through the relevant links. As part of a catechesis initiative with Barna, Gloo is providing churches with a free assessment tool to gauge their health and vitality.
About the Research
The tracking data from Barna Group is based on online and telephone interviews with 138,556 adults conducted over a 25-year period concluding in October 2025. These surveys employed quota sampling to accurately reflect U.S. adults across various demographics. Minimal statistical weighting was applied when necessary to ensure representativeness, and the data includes 12,116 online interviews collected from January to October 2025.
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Gloo is a leading technology platform focused on creating flourishing faith ecosystems, offering values-aligned AI, resources, insights, and funding to support individuals and communities. Currently, Gloo serves over 140,000 leaders in faith, ministry, and nonprofit sectors, based in Boulder, Colorado.
Barna Group specializes in research at the intersection of faith and culture. Since its founding in 1984, Barna has conducted millions of interviews across thousands of studies, establishing itself as a trusted source for insights related to religion, leadership, and generational issues.
