Announcement: the sale of printed Bibles is up this year.
U.S. print book sales increased by 1% from January through October 2024 compared to last year. Meanwhile, printed Bible sales grew by 22% over the same period!
Bibles Sold
In 2023, 14.2 million Bibles were sold in the U.S., and 13.7 million were sold during the first 10 months of 2024.
Reasons
One may think people buy the Bible to learn and grow closer to God. However, a recent Wall Street Journal report stated rising worry, stress, a search for hope, or highly focused marketing and designs are possible reasons fueling the demand for the Bible.
Amy Simpson with Tyndale House Publishers noted a growing interest in the Bible among Gen Z and college students. She said, “You have a generation that wants to find things that feel more solid.” The Bible is the bestselling book, year after year.
George Barna, director of research at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, noted in a release that parents of preteens and young children “are in a state of spiritual distress” as American adherence to biblical Christianity fades even in churches. Barna went on to say,
If ever there was a time when our nation was desperate for a grassroots spiritual revival led by the remnant in the pews who still revere God, Jesus Christ, the Bible, and truth, now is that time [1].
Barna exclaimed how children feel compelled to ignore adults whose talk and walk are inconsistent. They feel the need to discover truth themselves.
American Bible owners are found to have, on average, 3.5 Bibles in their homes. Additionally, about 24% reported owning six or more Bibles.
