A new report from the American Bible Society finds a strong correlation between Bible engagement and overall flourishing. The study highlights this trend most clearly among Gen Z and millennials. Young adults who read the Bible regularly scored an average of 8.1 on the Human Flourishing Index, while the general average for Gen Z was just 6.8—the lowest of any generation. Boomers led with a 7.5 average, and 45% of them reported high flourishing.
Human Flourishing Index Shows Religious Links
Developed by Harvard University, the Human Flourishing Index assesses six domains of life, including health, happiness, and meaning. According to the data, 43% of Americans who reported sensing God’s activity in their lives also reported high flourishing. In contrast, only 41% of those who rejected this belief did the same. Daily Bible readers averaged 7.9, while those who never read it averaged 6.8. Monthly churchgoers also experienced notable improvements in their well-being.
Social Relationships Improve for Gen Z
One of the most significant findings was the improvement in social relationships among Gen Z. Their scores rose from 6.6 in 2024 to 7.0 this year, surpassing both millennials and Gen X in that category. Researchers described the shift as a significant development for a generation often associated with loneliness and social isolation.
Bible Engagement on the Rise Nationwide
For the first time in four years, Bible engagement is increasing. About 11 million more Americans are now reading the Bible than in 2024. Millennials, Gen Xers, and men showed the most growth. Regional shifts were notable: the Northeast and West experienced an 18% increase in engagement, while the Midwest rose by 15%, and the South remained stable.
Regional Differences and Future Opportunities
In the secular-leaning San Francisco Bay Area, Bible reading among younger adults surpassed national averages. Millennials there reported 40% engagement, and Gen Zers 37%. In contrast, only 19% of seniors in the area read the Bible, which is significantly lower than the national average of 46%. The report also estimates that 71 million Americans are in the “movable middle,” open to but not yet engaged with Scripture.
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Engaging with Scripture Promotes Growth, Particularly in Gen Z and Millennials
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