There is a genuine increase in young people being drawn to Christianity, an investigative journalist has concluded while examining Gen Z’s Bible use.
Helen Coffey, a Senior Features Writer for The Independent, analysed statistics behind reports of a “quiet revival” in the UK and why Bible sales have doubled in the past five years.
A similar trend is happening in America, with Industry Analyst Brenna Connor recently stating that “2025 marked a 21-year high for Bible sales in the U.S.” – an increase of 12 per cent from 2024, and twice the number of Bibles sold in 2019.
Bible sales
Coffey found data from Nielsen BookScan reporting that in 2025 Bible sales reached the highest levels ever recorded in the UK. She noted: “This data excludes bulk orders by publishers or institutions; we’re talking about more individuals than ever buying a copy.”
Looking at YouVersion statistics, the world’s most-downloaded Bible app, she identified a double-digit growth in the number of UK users reading at least four days a week compared to last year.
The journalist emphasised that “as much as anyone can buy a bible ‘performatively’ and waft it around in the name of Islamophobic doctrine, the digital data points to something else: an upswing in people genuinely reading the text”.
‘Not alone’
Coffey anecdotally noted that “much of this surge is attributable to the younger generation”, and shared that a young man she knows recently picked up a copy of the King James Version.
“However surprising it might seem that a Gen Z from a family of atheists is suddenly the proud owner of the Good Book, he is far from alone.”
Citing a YouGov study, she explained that the number of 18 to 24-year-olds who say they believe in God or gods has more than doubled between 2021 to 2025, going from 16 to 37 per cent. In addition, data from The Bible Society showed that church attendance has quadrupled for 18 to 24-year-olds since 2018, up to 16 per cent.
Bold witness
The journalist suggested that one reason for the cultural shift could be the number of footballers, musicians, and reality TV stars openly sharing about their faith in Jesus.
Coffey explained: “At the same time, there has been a visible dwindling of power when it comes to the ‘new atheism’ movement popularised by intellectuals like Richard Dawkins, author of The God Delusion at the turn of the century.”
“By the end of the Noughties, admitting to believing in God, let alone being a practising Christian, felt like a shameful secret to be kept under wraps. Cut to 2026, and that embarrassment seems almost antiquated.”
Christian communications agency Jersey Road found in a recent study that 68 per cent of 18 to 24 year-old evangelicals feel more confident in sharing their faith.
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