2026 U.S. RESEARCH & BIBLE FACTS
Bible Statistics and Facts
Current data on Bible reading and openness to Scripture, plus clear facts about the books of the Bible for readers, writers, and ministry leaders.
Last updated September 21, 2026
AT A GLANCE
What the latest national survey found.
These figures come from the first chapter of American Bible Society's State of the Bible: USA 2026. Each statistic below links to the source that reported it.
28%
of U.S. adults are curious about the Bible
American Bible Society calls this group the “Movable Middle,” people who are open to the Bible but not deeply engaged with it.
Source: American Bible Society, April 9, 2026+9 million
more Americans are open to the Bible than in 2024
The increase came alongside a decline in the number of adults described as disengaged with Scripture.
Source: American Bible Society, April 9, 202617%
of U.S. adults are Scripture engaged
This segment returned to a level close to its 2024 share of the population.
Source: American Bible Society, April 9, 20261 in 2
Americans say they have read at least half of the Bible
This measure reflects Americans’ self-reported familiarity with the text.
Source: American Bible Society, April 9, 2026Nearly 80%
of Bible users read a printed Bible at least monthly
Print remains the most commonly used format among people who use the Bible.
Source: American Bible Society, April 9, 202662%
of Bible users use digital text at least monthly
Digital Bible use is widespread alongside print, especially among younger adults.
Source: American Bible Society, April 9, 202664%
of people who say the Bible transformed their life have read most or all of it
This finding describes a relationship reported within the survey, not proof that one measure causes the other.
Source: American Bible Society, April 9, 202674%
of people using a Bible reading plan have read most or all of the Bible
The finding reflects people who report using a guide, schedule, plan, or program.
Source: American Bible Society, April 9, 2026NEW 2026 FINDINGS
How faith takes shape in everyday life.
Later chapters of the same national study look at how Bible engagement connects with family rhythms, church life, and forgiveness.
1 in 7
parents read the Bible with their children daily or often
More than one in four parents pray with their children at that same frequency, while more than half rarely or never do either.
Source: American Bible Society, May 14, 202680%+
of very satisfied churchgoers say leaders help them connect with the Bible
The finding comes from a national look at church health, attendance, and spiritual vitality.
Source: American Bible Society, August 13, 202614%
of the Movable Middle say God will not forgive certain actions
That share is nearly three times the rate among Scripture Engaged adults, which was 5% in the same study.
Source: American Bible Society, September 10, 2026THE BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
Quick facts about the books of the Bible.
These details describe the traditional Protestant arrangement of the Bible and can help readers find their place in the larger story of Scripture.
66 books
make up the Protestant Bible
The Old Testament contains 39 books, and the New Testament contains 27.
Source: ESV, books of the Bible5 books
make up the Torah
Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy open the Old Testament.
Source: ESV, books of the Bible4 Gospels
open the New Testament
Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John tell the story of Jesus’ life, ministry, death, and resurrection.
Source: ESV, books of the Bible5 books
are one chapter long
Obadiah, Philemon, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude are each a single chapter.
Source: ESV, books of the BibleA NOTE ON THE DATA
How these findings were gathered.
American Bible Society designed the survey, and NORC at the University of Chicago fielded it through its AmeriSpeak panel. The nationally representative study included 2,649 U.S. adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, interviewed online and by phone from January 8 through January 27, 2026.
“Bible users,” “Scripture engaged,” and related terms have specific definitions in the report. Read the original 2026 State of the Bible findings alongside any statistic you quote.
METHODOLOGY AND SOURCES
Sources
- American Bible Society, “16th Annual State of the Bible Report: Reading Dips but Openness to Scripture Surges,” April 9, 2026. This report is the source for the U.S. Bible engagement statistics.
- American Bible Society, “Amid the Challenges of Work-Family Balance and Exhaustion, American Parents Are Open to the Bible,” May 14, 2026. This report is the source for the parenting finding.
- American Bible Society, “Data Reveals 8 Million More Americans Are Attending Church At Least Twice a Year,” August 13, 2026. This report is the source for the church-life finding.
- American Bible Society, “New Data Reveals How Americans Wrestle with Forgiveness,” September 10, 2026. This report is the source for the forgiveness finding.
- ESV, “The Great Truths of the Bible.” This source supports the book facts and traditional Protestant arrangement referenced above.
Cite this page
Today's Godly Wisdom. “Bible Statistics and Facts.” Updated September 21, 2026. Today's Godly Wisdom.
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