by Duncan Williams, Christian Today
Bible sales in the UK have risen sharply, increasing by 87 per cent from £2.69 million in 2019 to £5.02 million in 2024, according to new data from SPCK Group and Nielsen Book Data.
Publishers and researchers attribute this growth to Generation Z’s renewed interest in spirituality, marking a striking cultural shift.
While overall non-fiction book sales declined by 6% between 2023 and 2024, religious books have defied the trend. The broader category of “Bibles and liturgy” grew from £7 million in 2019 to £8.1 million in 2024, continuing a longer-term rise from £5 million in 2008. Spending on religious books as a whole reached £25.2 million last year, reflecting a 3% year-on-year increase.
Surveys suggest that young people are driving this change. A January poll found that 62% of 18 to 24 year olds describe themselves as “very” or “fairly” spiritual, compared to just 35% of those over 65.
Additionally, only 13% of Generation Z identify as atheists – far lower than the 20% of millennials and 25% of Generation X who do.
Sam Richardson, Chief Executive of SPCK, believes these trends reflect a major cultural shift.