Good News: Bible Sales Up 22% in 2024—And Most Are New Buyers!

According to a book sales tracker, the number of Bibles purchased in the US this year is up 22%—and that growth is being fueled by first-time buyers! The biggest selling book in the world is not only still the biggest selling but is increasing dramatically in sales!

While total US sales of print books were only up by less than 1%, the Bible sold 13.7 million copies! That’s up from 9.7 million in 2019.

While total US sales of print books were only up by less than 1%, the Bible sold 13.7 million copies! That’s up from 9.7 million in 2019. What’s even more surprising is this year’s data is only through the end of October (so it’s not including any Black Friday or other Christmas sales). Apparently, readers are also purchasing “related titles that provide guidance, insights and context—even sets of stickers to flag particularly meaningful passages.”

This upward trend in Bible purchasing is being attributed to the proliferation of new Bible designs (such as note-taking Bibles, chronological Bibles, various study Bibles, etc.) and to the anxiety and hopelessness so many people are feeling in today’s world. According to one publisher, there’s two groups buying Bibles: “the spiritually curious, who are perhaps picking up their first Bible, and those seeking a deeper sense of spirituality and expanding existing Bible collections.”

Praise the Lord! It’s wonderful to hear that so many people are purchasing—and hopefully that also means reading—God’s Word. This will have an impact because Scripture is not mere words on a page. It’s “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). God uses his Word to change hearts and lives for now and eternity!

God uses his Word to change hearts and lives for now and eternity!

That’s why Answers in Genesis–Australia is currently distributing tens of thousands of beautiful Bibles to Aussie households, with QR codes directing them to special videos on our site. Please pray for this massive outreach and the hundreds of volunteers distributing the Bibles.

So if you’re new to God’s Word (or encouraging a first-time Bible reader), where should you read first? Well, here’s my suggestion:

1. Start where God does—in Genesis! Read Genesis chapters 1–11 to understand the foundational history of creation, the fall, the flood, and the tower of Babel. It’s this history that explains who we are, why we’re here, why the world is such a mess, what our biggest problem is, and more.
2. Read Exodus 20. This passage gives the 10 Commandments. It’s a great summary of what God expects of us (and ultimately how we can’t do what God requires—that’s why we need Jesus!).
3. Read the Gospel of John. This book will introduce you to who Jesus is, why he came, and his death and resurrection.
4. Read the book of Romans. This letter to one of the early churches lays out and wonderfully explains the mystery of the gospel—salvation by faith in Christ.
5. Read Revelation 21–22. These two chapters highlight what’s coming when Jesus returns and makes a new heaven and a new earth. It’s a beautiful glimpse at the future for those who’ve trusted in Jesus for salvation.
6. Start back at the beginning and read the whole thing. A chronological Bible, which arranges books and chapters in historical order, is a great way to do that. There’s even Bible designs that divide the Scriptures into daily readings so you can read it all in one year. Or you can use a daily reading plan (like this one available as a free download) to make any Bible a chronological Bible.

As you read God’s Word, I pray you’ll discover how powerful the Bible really is and, on its pages, meet the God who loves you so much he came and paid the price for your sin on the cross and now offers the free gift of eternal life to all who will repent and believe.

I encourage you to give a Bible to someone you know this Christmas. Clearly, people are open to and curious about God’s Word. We offer a variety of Bibles on our site, but there are hosts of different designs for men, women, teens, and children at various publishers. And consider adding a resource to help them understand the Bible, such as Begin, a book we’ve written specifically for seekers or brand-new Christians; my new devotional, Ken Ham Daily; or Creation to Babel, a commentary on Genesis 1–11 for families.

And remember,

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

Get More Answers on Answers News

This item was discussed Monday on Answers News with cohosts Bryan Osborne, Kevin Hadsall, and Roger Patterson. Answers News is our weekly news program filmed live before a studio audience here at the Creation Museum, broadcast on our Answers in Genesis YouTube channel, and posted to Answers TV. We also covered the following topics:

• Do two sets of footprints tell a tale of human evolution?
• Abandoned city found buried under ice in Greenland.
• People fear being coerced into assisted suicide.
• And more!

Be sure to join us each Monday at 2 p.m. (ET) on YouTube or later that day on Answers TV for Answers News. You won’t want to miss this unique news program that gives science and culture news from a distinctly biblical and Christian perspective.

Thanks for stopping by and thanks for praying,
Ken

This item was written with the assistance of AiG’s research team.