According to the American Bible Society’s “State of the Bible USA 2026,” nearly half of Americans (48%) have read at least half of the Bible, including 17% who have read it in its entirety. However, regular engagement remains relatively low — only 25% of Americans qualify as “Active Bible Users,” meaning they read Scripture at least once a week outside of church, a figure that actually dipped slightly from 2025. The majority of Americans, about 62%, don’t use the Bible at all or less than once a year.
The survey also noted that a brief surge in Bible reading observed in 2025 appears to have faded, with engagement returning largely to 2024 levels. That said, the number of Americans who are open to or curious about the Bible has grown by roughly 9 million people over the past two years, suggesting latent interest even among non-readers.
Demographically, Bible use tends to be higher among those without college degrees and lower among those with bachelor’s or postgraduate degrees. Regionally, the Bible Belt leads the way, with the East South Central states — Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee — posting the highest usage rate at 54%. New England trails significantly at just 15%, while the Pacific states also rank well below the national average at 26%.
