62%
of U.S. adults identify as Christian.
Pew Research Center measured this in its 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study.
Source 1: Pew Research Center, Religious identity in the United States, February 26, 2025U.S. reference data
Bible Reading and Prayer Statistics in the U.S.
A current, source-led snapshot of how Americans read Scripture, pray, and make faith part of everyday life.
Last updated August 11, 2026
Browse the statistics
At a glance
Scripture still has a place in daily life.
The figures below bring together nationally representative research from Pew Research Center and American Bible Society. They are intended as a practical reference for writers, churches, educators, and anyone exploring how faith is practiced in American homes today.
Every number is linked to its original source and date. Survey wording and definitions differ between studies, so each statistic is presented with the context needed to quote it accurately.
Key figures
10 statistics to know.
44%
of U.S. adults say they pray at least once a day.
Daily prayer has remained between 44% and 46% since 2021 in Pew surveys.
Source 2: Pew Research Center, Prayer and other religious practices, February 26, 202522%
read scripture outside religious services at least weekly.
An additional 7% say they read scripture once or twice a month.
Source 3: Pew Research Center, Prayer and other religious practices, February 26, 202535%
read scripture, devotions, or other holy texts at least monthly.
This combines people who read scripture or other devotional and inspirational literature.
Source 4: Pew Research Center, Prayer and other religious practices, February 26, 2025About 4 in 10
of parents with minor children pray or read scripture with them.
The figure refers to parents or guardians with at least one minor child living at home.
Source 5: Pew Research Center, Religion, fertility and child-rearing, February 26, 202528%
of Americans are open or curious about the Bible.
American Bible Society calls this group the Movable Middle: people open to Scripture without being deeply engaged.
Source 6: American Bible Society, State of the Bible: USA 2026, April 9, 202617%
of Americans are classified as Scripture Engaged.
This measure looks beyond frequency to the Bible’s interaction, impact, and centrality in a person’s life.
Source 7: American Bible Society, State of the Bible: USA 2026, April 9, 202650%
say they have read half of the Bible or more.
One-third say they have read all or most of it.
Source 8: American Bible Society, State of the Bible: USA 2026, April 9, 202617%
say they have read the entire Bible.
Only 10% of Americans say they have not read any of it.
Source 9: American Bible Society, State of the Bible: USA 2026, April 9, 2026Nearly 80%
of Bible users read a printed Bible at least monthly.
Digital text is also widely used: 62% of Bible users report reading it at least monthly.
Source 10: American Bible Society, State of the Bible: USA 2026, April 9, 2026How to read the data
Frequency is only one part of the picture.
Pew’s research shows the rhythm of prayer and scripture reading across the whole adult population. American Bible Society adds a closer view of Bible habits, including the difference between people who are curious, occasional users, and deeply engaged readers.
These studies should not be treated as interchangeable. The clearest approach is to cite the individual figure, name the source, and retain the original wording about who was surveyed and what was measured.
Data notes and sources
Built for accurate citation.
Pew Research Center's 2023-24 Religious Landscape Study surveyed 36,908 U.S. adults between July 17, 2023 and March 4, 2024. American Bible Society's 2026 State of the Bible Chapter 1 used 2,649 online and phone interviews with adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, collected January 8-27, 2026.
- Pew Research Center, Religious identity in the United States, February 26, 2025.
- Pew Research Center, Prayer and other religious practices, February 26, 2025.
- Pew Research Center, Religion, fertility and child-rearing, February 26, 2025.
- Pew Research Center, Religious Landscape Study methodology, February 26, 2025.
- American Bible Society, State of the Bible: USA 2026, April 9, 2026.
Suggested citation
Selah Harmony Studio. “Bible Reading and Prayer Statistics in the U.S.” Updated August 11, 2026. https://selahharmonystudio.com/bible-reading-prayer-statistics
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