New analysis of Nielsen BookScan data reveals that the sale of bibles in the UK grew 87 percent in value (total revenue generated) and 61 percent in volume (number of units sold) from 2019 to 2024.
The research, by Christian publisher SPCK Group, reveals that the total yearly sales of bibles in the UK jumped from £2.69 million in 2019 to £5.02 million in 2024 – an increase of £2.33 million over just four years. By contrast, between 2008 and 2019, total yearly bible sales grew just £277,188.
Religion is ‘fastest growing area of Trade Non-Fiction’
Nielsen BookScan data also shows that Religion is the fastest growing area of Trade Non-Fiction, despite the sector as a whole falling in sales. The Nielson BookScan UK annual summary report for 2024 reads:
“2024 was only the third year on record (after 2010 and 2012) that more fiction books were bought in the UK than Trade Non-Fiction. Trade Non-Fiction dropped to 58m in volume sales in 2024, down 6% vs 2023. There were pockets of growth for Trade Non-Fiction in 2024. Three subject areas increased in both measures: Leisure & Lifestyle (+2% in value), Fiction Related Items (0.1%) and religion (+4%) with Food & Drink growing in value (+3%)”
Sam Richardson, CEO of SPCK says: “The marked growth in Bible sales between 2019 and 2024, as well as the fact that Religion was the fastest growing area of Trade non-fiction in 2024, shows that we are at the centre of a significant cultural shift, regarding matters of faith and religion. Atheism, once considered by modern society to be the view of most rational adults, no longer seems to carry the same weight or appeal. Young people (Gen Z, in particular) are statistically far less likely to identify as atheists than their parents. Just last week, Giles Coren wrote a column for The Times titled ‘this Lent, I will turn atheism to ashes’, and former professed atheist Richard Dawkins now identifies as ‘a cultural Christian’.
“We are seeing an increased curiosity about Christianity. Events like the Covid-19 pandemic and the mental health crisis have caused many individuals to think deeply about their spirituality. Rather than relying on atheist thought leaders (of, for that matter, church leaders) we are seeing people want to draw their own conclusions by reading Christian books in general and the Bible in particular.”
Press contact: Emily Beater; ebeater@spck.org.uk, 07494430503
SPCK Group CEO Sam Richardson is available for interview.
All data gathered from Nielsen BookScan.
