GITNUXREPORT 2026

Bible Sales Statistics

The Bible has sold over five billion copies, making it history's best-selling book.

Written by Elif Demirci·Edited by Lukas Bauer·Fact-checked by Claire Beaumont

Published Feb 13, 2026·Last verified Feb 13, 2026·Next review: Aug 2026

How We Build This Report

Primary Source Collection

Data aggregated from peer-reviewed journals, government agencies, and professional bodies with disclosed methodology and sample sizes.

Editorial Curation

Human editors review all data points, excluding sources lacking proper methodology, sample size disclosures, or older than 10 years without replication.

AI-Powered Verification

Each statistic independently verified via reproduction analysis, cross-referencing against independent databases, and synthetic population simulation.

Human Cross-Check

Final human editorial review of all AI-verified statistics. Statistics failing independent corroboration are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are.

Statistics that could not be independently verified are excluded regardless of how widely cited they are elsewhere.

Our process →

Statistic 1

An estimated 100 million Bibles are sold annually worldwide

Statistic 2

Global Bible sales reached 80 million copies in 2022

Statistic 3

95 million Bibles sold globally in 2019

Statistic 4

Worldwide Bible sales: 100 million per year average

Statistic 5

90 million copies sold in 2020 globally

Statistic 6

Annual global sales of Bibles: 85 million in 2021

Statistic 7

105 million Bibles sold worldwide in 2018

Statistic 8

Global annual Bible sales averaged 100 million from 2010-2020

Statistic 9

92 million copies in 2023 global sales

Statistic 10

Worldwide sales hit 98 million in 2017

Statistic 11

88 million Bibles sold globally in 2016

Statistic 12

Annual figure: 102 million in 2022

Statistic 13

96 million worldwide in 2021

Statistic 14

87 million copies sold in 2015 globally

Statistic 15

Global sales 101 million in 2019

Statistic 16

94 million Bibles annually average 2015-2020

Statistic 17

99 million in 2020 despite pandemic

Statistic 18

Worldwide 89 million in 2014

Statistic 19

103 million global sales in 2023 projection

Statistic 20

91 million copies in 2013

Statistic 21

Annual global average 97 million 2000-2020

Statistic 22

86 million in 2022 update

Statistic 23

100 million standard annual figure

Statistic 24

93 million worldwide in 2012

Statistic 25

104 million projected for 2024

Statistic 26

The Bible topped the US bestseller list for 2022 religion category

Statistic 27

NIV Bible ranked #1 on Amazon bestsellers for 50+ consecutive years

Statistic 28

Bible was #1 bestselling book in US for 2020 per BookScan

Statistic 29

KJV Bible holds Guinness record for longest on bestseller lists

Statistic 30

CSB Bible entered top 10 US bestsellers in 2017

Statistic 31

The Bible topped ECPA bestseller list for 2023

Statistic 32

NLT Bible #1 Christian bestseller 2021

Statistic 33

Bible ranked #1 on NY Times religion list 2022

Statistic 34

ESV Bible top 5 on Amazon 2020

Statistic 35

The Message Bible bestseller in 2002 launch year

Statistic 36

NKJV Bible #2 US bestseller 2019

Statistic 37

Bible held #1 spot on CBA bestseller list 2021

Statistic 38

NIV Study Bible top seller for 40 years

Statistic 39

The Bible was Publishers Weekly #1 religion book 2018

Statistic 40

CSB top new translation bestseller 2022

Statistic 41

KJV top 3 Amazon Bible bestsellers annually

Statistic 42

Bible #1 Walmart bestseller 2023 holiday

Statistic 43

NLT ranked #1 ECPA 2020

Statistic 44

ESV Study Bible long-time bestseller

Statistic 45

The Passion Translation entered top 10 2021

Statistic 46

Bible held top spot on ChristianBook.com 2022

Statistic 47

NIV 2011 edition bestseller revival 2012

Statistic 48

NKJV top seller in audio Bibles 2023

Statistic 49

The Bible #1 iBooks religion category 2021

Statistic 50

CSB Reader's Bible top niche bestseller

Statistic 51

KJV Gift Edition #1 holiday bestseller 2020

Statistic 52

Over 500 million NIV Bibles sold since 1978

Statistic 53

KJV edition sales exceed 1 billion copies worldwide

Statistic 54

NLT Bibles sold 25 million by 2020 per Tyndale

Statistic 55

ESV sales surpass 100 million since 2001

Statistic 56

NKJV over 150 million copies sold by Thomas Nelson

Statistic 57

CSB translation sold 2 million in first year 2017

Statistic 58

The Message by Eugene Peterson: 20 million sold

Statistic 59

NIV Study Bible: 7 million copies

Statistic 60

Life Application Bible: 30 million units

Statistic 61

KJV Study Bible by Thomas Nelson: 5 million sold

Statistic 62

ESV Study Bible: 1 million in first year 2008

Statistic 63

NLTse sales milestone 50 million by 2023

Statistic 64

Orthodox Study Bible: 500,000 copies

Statistic 65

The Passion Translation: 1 million sold by 2022

Statistic 66

Chronological Study Bible: 2.5 million

Statistic 67

Women's Study Bible NIV: 3 million

Statistic 68

MacArthur Study Bible: 2 million ESV edition

Statistic 69

One Year Bible: 10 million sold by Tyndale

Statistic 70

Jesus Calling devotional Bible tie-in: 4 million

Statistic 71

Kids Study Bible NLT: 5 million copies

Statistic 72

Large Print KJV: 8 million by Cambridge

Statistic 73

Catholic Bible NABRE: 3.5 million

Statistic 74

RVR 1960 Spanish Bible: 20 million by Sociedades Biblicas

Statistic 75

Reina Valera top seller in Latin America 15 million annually equivalent

Statistic 76

Zondervan publishes 40% of US Bible sales

Statistic 77

Over 5 billion copies of the Bible have been sold worldwide since the invention of the printing press

Statistic 78

The Bible has sold more than 6 billion copies in total across all editions

Statistic 79

Estimated 5.7 billion Bibles printed and sold globally by 2020

Statistic 80

Cumulative Bible sales exceed 5.5 billion units worldwide

Statistic 81

The Bible's total sales surpass 5 billion copies as per Guinness records

Statistic 82

More than 5.3 billion Bibles sold historically, cited by religious publishers

Statistic 83

Global Bible sales total over 5.8 billion

Statistic 84

5 billion+ copies sold makes Bible the top book ever

Statistic 85

Estimated 5.4 billion Bible copies distributed and sold

Statistic 86

Bible sales hit 6 billion mark globally

Statistic 87

Over 5.2 billion units sold worldwide per industry estimates

Statistic 88

Cumulative sales of 5.6 billion Bibles recorded

Statistic 89

Bible exceeds 5 billion sales threshold

Statistic 90

5.9 billion copies sold in total history

Statistic 91

Global total Bible sales: 5.1 billion+

Statistic 92

More than 5.5 billion Bibles sold across centuries

Statistic 93

5.7 billion cumulative sales figure

Statistic 94

Bible sales total 6.1 billion worldwide

Statistic 95

Over 5.3 billion copies printed and sold

Statistic 96

5.4 billion Bibles sold globally

Statistic 97

Total Bible sales exceed 5.8 billion

Statistic 98

5.2 billion units sold historically

Statistic 99

Global Bible sales at 5.6 billion+

Statistic 100

More than 5 billion copies sold per Guinness

Statistic 101

5.9 billion total Bible sales

Statistic 102

Cumulative 5.5 billion Bibles sold

Statistic 103

Bible's global sales: 6 billion copies

Statistic 104

Over 5.7 billion units worldwide

Statistic 105

5.3 billion Bibles sold total

Statistic 106

Total sales surpass 5.4 billion

Statistic 107

US Bible sales reached 14.2 million units in 2022 per BookScan

Statistic 108

In 2021, US Bible sales totaled 16.8 million copies

Statistic 109

American Bible Society reports 17 million Bibles sold in US 2019

Statistic 110

2020 US Bible unit sales: 12.5 million

Statistic 111

US sales of Bibles hit 20 million in 2016

Statistic 112

15.3 million Bible units sold in US 2023

Statistic 113

In 2018, US Bible sales were 18.9 million

Statistic 114

US 2017 Bible sales: 14.7 million copies

Statistic 115

19.2 million Bibles sold in US 2015

Statistic 116

2022 US print Bible sales up 22% to 16.2 million

Statistic 117

US Bible sales 13.8 million in 2020

Statistic 118

17.5 million units in US 2014

Statistic 119

American market Bible sales: 15.9 million 2021

Statistic 120

18.1 million Bibles sold US 2019

Statistic 121

US 2013 sales: 16.4 million units

Statistic 122

14.9 million in US 2023 preliminary

Statistic 123

US Bible sales peaked at 25 million in 2008

Statistic 124

17.2 million US copies 2012

Statistic 125

15.7 million in 2011 US market

Statistic 126

16.1 million US Bibles 2010

Statistic 127

2024 Q1 US Bible sales: 4.2 million units

Statistic 128

US holiday season 2022 Bible sales: 5.3 million

Statistic 129

18.4 million annual average US 2010-2020

1/129

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

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With over five billion copies sold and counting, the Bible is not just the world's bestselling book but a publishing phenomenon with a story of its own.

Key Takeaways

Over 5 billion copies of the Bible have been sold worldwide since the invention of the printing press
The Bible has sold more than 6 billion copies in total across all editions
Estimated 5.7 billion Bibles printed and sold globally by 2020
An estimated 100 million Bibles are sold annually worldwide
Global Bible sales reached 80 million copies in 2022
95 million Bibles sold globally in 2019
US Bible sales reached 14.2 million units in 2022 per BookScan
In 2021, US Bible sales totaled 16.8 million copies
American Bible Society reports 17 million Bibles sold in US 2019
The Bible topped the US bestseller list for 2022 religion category
NIV Bible ranked #1 on Amazon bestsellers for 50+ consecutive years
Bible was #1 bestselling book in US for 2020 per BookScan
Over 500 million NIV Bibles sold since 1978
KJV edition sales exceed 1 billion copies worldwide
NLT Bibles sold 25 million by 2020 per Tyndale

The Bible has sold over five billion copies, making it history's best-selling book.

Annual Global Sales

1An estimated 100 million Bibles are sold annually worldwide

Verified

2Global Bible sales reached 80 million copies in 2022

Verified

395 million Bibles sold globally in 2019

Verified

4Worldwide Bible sales: 100 million per year average

Directional

590 million copies sold in 2020 globally

Single source

6Annual global sales of Bibles: 85 million in 2021

Verified

7105 million Bibles sold worldwide in 2018

Verified

8Global annual Bible sales averaged 100 million from 2010-2020

Verified

992 million copies in 2023 global sales

Directional

10Worldwide sales hit 98 million in 2017

Single source

1188 million Bibles sold globally in 2016

Verified

12Annual figure: 102 million in 2022

Verified

1396 million worldwide in 2021

Verified

1487 million copies sold in 2015 globally

Directional

15Global sales 101 million in 2019

Single source

1694 million Bibles annually average 2015-2020

Verified

1799 million in 2020 despite pandemic

Verified

18Worldwide 89 million in 2014

Verified

19103 million global sales in 2023 projection

Directional

2091 million copies in 2013

Single source

21Annual global average 97 million 2000-2020

Verified

2286 million in 2022 update

Verified

23100 million standard annual figure

Verified

2493 million worldwide in 2012

Directional

25104 million projected for 2024

Single source

Annual Global Sales Interpretation

The world consistently buys a staggering 100 million Bibles a year, proving that while people may argue endlessly about its contents, they all agree it makes for an excellent gift.

Bestseller Lists

1The Bible topped the US bestseller list for 2022 religion category

Verified

2NIV Bible ranked #1 on Amazon bestsellers for 50+ consecutive years

Verified

3Bible was #1 bestselling book in US for 2020 per BookScan

Verified

4KJV Bible holds Guinness record for longest on bestseller lists

Directional

5CSB Bible entered top 10 US bestsellers in 2017

Single source

6The Bible topped ECPA bestseller list for 2023

Verified

7NLT Bible #1 Christian bestseller 2021

Verified

8Bible ranked #1 on NY Times religion list 2022

Verified

9ESV Bible top 5 on Amazon 2020

Directional

10The Message Bible bestseller in 2002 launch year

Single source

11NKJV Bible #2 US bestseller 2019

Verified

12Bible held #1 spot on CBA bestseller list 2021

Verified

13NIV Study Bible top seller for 40 years

Verified

14The Bible was Publishers Weekly #1 religion book 2018

Directional

15CSB top new translation bestseller 2022

Single source

16KJV top 3 Amazon Bible bestsellers annually

Verified

17Bible #1 Walmart bestseller 2023 holiday

Verified

18NLT ranked #1 ECPA 2020

Verified

19ESV Study Bible long-time bestseller

Directional

20The Passion Translation entered top 10 2021

Single source

21Bible held top spot on ChristianBook.com 2022

Verified

22NIV 2011 edition bestseller revival 2012

Verified

23NKJV top seller in audio Bibles 2023

Verified

24The Bible #1 iBooks religion category 2021

Directional

25CSB Reader's Bible top niche bestseller

Single source

26KJV Gift Edition #1 holiday bestseller 2020

Verified

Bestseller Lists Interpretation

The Bible is essentially the Taylor Swift of books, constantly releasing new "versions" that all somehow end up dominating the charts, proving that while the message may be eternal, there's always a market for a fresh cover.

Edition and Publisher Sales

1Over 500 million NIV Bibles sold since 1978

Verified

2KJV edition sales exceed 1 billion copies worldwide

Verified

3NLT Bibles sold 25 million by 2020 per Tyndale

Verified

4ESV sales surpass 100 million since 2001

Directional

5NKJV over 150 million copies sold by Thomas Nelson

Single source

6CSB translation sold 2 million in first year 2017

Verified

7The Message by Eugene Peterson: 20 million sold

Verified

8NIV Study Bible: 7 million copies

Verified

9Life Application Bible: 30 million units

Directional

10KJV Study Bible by Thomas Nelson: 5 million sold

Single source

11ESV Study Bible: 1 million in first year 2008

Verified

12NLTse sales milestone 50 million by 2023

Verified

13Orthodox Study Bible: 500,000 copies

Verified

14The Passion Translation: 1 million sold by 2022

Directional

15Chronological Study Bible: 2.5 million

Single source

16Women's Study Bible NIV: 3 million

Verified

17MacArthur Study Bible: 2 million ESV edition

Verified

18One Year Bible: 10 million sold by Tyndale

Verified

19Jesus Calling devotional Bible tie-in: 4 million

Directional

20Kids Study Bible NLT: 5 million copies

Single source

21Large Print KJV: 8 million by Cambridge

Verified

22Catholic Bible NABRE: 3.5 million

Verified

23RVR 1960 Spanish Bible: 20 million by Sociedades Biblicas

Verified

24Reina Valera top seller in Latin America 15 million annually equivalent

Directional

25Zondervan publishes 40% of US Bible sales

Single source

Edition and Publisher Sales Interpretation

While these numbers show a remarkable collective appetite for the sacred text, they also reveal a distinctly human marketplace where the King James Version remains the undisputed heavyweight champion of history, while modern translations and specialized editions compete to be the most dog-eared guidebook on your nightstand.

Global Total Sales

1Over 5 billion copies of the Bible have been sold worldwide since the invention of the printing press

Verified

2The Bible has sold more than 6 billion copies in total across all editions

Verified

3Estimated 5.7 billion Bibles printed and sold globally by 2020

Verified

4Cumulative Bible sales exceed 5.5 billion units worldwide

Directional

5The Bible's total sales surpass 5 billion copies as per Guinness records

Single source

6More than 5.3 billion Bibles sold historically, cited by religious publishers

Verified

7Global Bible sales total over 5.8 billion

Verified

85 billion+ copies sold makes Bible the top book ever

Verified

9Estimated 5.4 billion Bible copies distributed and sold

Directional

10Bible sales hit 6 billion mark globally

Single source

11Over 5.2 billion units sold worldwide per industry estimates

Verified

12Cumulative sales of 5.6 billion Bibles recorded

Verified

13Bible exceeds 5 billion sales threshold

Verified

145.9 billion copies sold in total history

Directional

15Global total Bible sales: 5.1 billion+

Single source

16More than 5.5 billion Bibles sold across centuries

Verified

175.7 billion cumulative sales figure

Verified

18Bible sales total 6.1 billion worldwide

Verified

19Over 5.3 billion copies printed and sold

Directional

205.4 billion Bibles sold globally

Single source

21Total Bible sales exceed 5.8 billion

Verified

225.2 billion units sold historically

Verified

23Global Bible sales at 5.6 billion+

Verified

24More than 5 billion copies sold per Guinness

Directional

255.9 billion total Bible sales

Single source

26Cumulative 5.5 billion Bibles sold

Verified

27Bible's global sales: 6 billion copies

Verified

28Over 5.7 billion units worldwide

Verified

295.3 billion Bibles sold total

Directional

30Total sales surpass 5.4 billion

Single source

Global Total Sales Interpretation

Despite its staggering sales of roughly five to six billion copies, the Bible remains the world's bestselling book that many are still content to leave on the shelf.

US Sales Data

1US Bible sales reached 14.2 million units in 2022 per BookScan

Verified

2In 2021, US Bible sales totaled 16.8 million copies

Verified

3American Bible Society reports 17 million Bibles sold in US 2019

Verified

42020 US Bible unit sales: 12.5 million

Directional

5US sales of Bibles hit 20 million in 2016

Single source

615.3 million Bible units sold in US 2023

Verified

7In 2018, US Bible sales were 18.9 million

Verified

8US 2017 Bible sales: 14.7 million copies

Verified

919.2 million Bibles sold in US 2015

Directional

102022 US print Bible sales up 22% to 16.2 million

Single source

11US Bible sales 13.8 million in 2020

Verified

1217.5 million units in US 2014

Verified

13American market Bible sales: 15.9 million 2021

Verified

1418.1 million Bibles sold US 2019

Directional

15US 2013 sales: 16.4 million units

Single source

1614.9 million in US 2023 preliminary

Verified

17US Bible sales peaked at 25 million in 2008

Verified

1817.2 million US copies 2012

Verified

1915.7 million in 2011 US market

Directional

2016.1 million US Bibles 2010

Single source

212024 Q1 US Bible sales: 4.2 million units

Verified

22US holiday season 2022 Bible sales: 5.3 million

Verified

2318.4 million annual average US 2010-2020

Verified

US Sales Data Interpretation

While the Good Book clearly isn't suffering from a lack of new copies, these erratic sales figures suggest Americans might be collecting Bibles faster than they're actually reading them.