A surprising surge in Bible sales across the UK and Ireland, reaching record highs amidst a broader decline in nonfiction book sales.



The recent surge in Bible sales isn’t just an American trend, as new data from the United Kingdom shows a similar rise across the Atlantic.

NielsenIQ BookData found that Bible sales increased 19 percent in the U.K. and Ireland in 2025, reaching their highest level since 1998, when records began, according to reports in The Independent and GB News.

Despite the strong performance of certain titles, overall nonfiction book sales moved in the opposite direction. Spending in the non-fiction category fell to its lowest level since 2014 and was roughly 5 percent lower than the previous year. Unit sales also declined, dropping 6 percent to approximately 59 million copies. Meanwhile, adult fiction moved the other way, with spending climbing 5 percent.

The NielsenIQ BookData on Bibles mirrors other data, including that from faith-based SPCK Publishing, which revealed in January that Bible sales had climbed 134 percent since 2019.

An SPCK blog said the rise in Bible sales was found among “people of all ages, and especially younger readers” – who are “picking up Scripture with renewed interest.”

“This isn't just a publishing story: it's a sign that many are searching for meaning and stability in a changing world,” SPCK said. “... People of all ages, particularly younger adults, are searching for meaning, stability, and hope in an increasingly uncertain world. This often takes the form of renewed curiosity, reflection, and openness to spirituality, even if not expressed through traditional church attendance.”

Bible sales in the United States have surged in recent years, reaching a 21-year high in 2025 with about 19 million copies sold, according to data from Circana BookScan released in January. The figure represents a 12 percent increase from 2024 and roughly double the number of Bibles sold in 2019.

“Alongside the after-effects of the pandemic and ongoing global instability, rapid technological change, including the rise of artificial intelligence, people are asking what is trustworthy, enduring and real,” SPCK said. “In such a climate, Scripture is being rediscovered by many as something rooted, reliable, and deeply human.”

The NielsenIQ BookData was released in tandem with the London Book Fair.

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