- Share the Bible - Why Research?
- / Scotland: Land of the Book?
Scotland:
Land of the Book?
This research is primarily based on data from the Patmos World Bible Attitudes Survey.
The Patmos World Bible Attitudes Survey is the largest global research project on Bible engagement ever conducted, published in 2025 by the United Bible Societies and Gallup. Surveying 91,000 people in 85 nations around the world. The Scottish data presented is a representative sample of 1,000 Scottish adults.
A Snapshot of Scotland
Scotland’s churches serve communities that are changing in complex ways. One fifth of Scotland’s population is aged 65 and over, while young adults make up a smaller share (9%) but are often the focus of research and public conversations. A large percentage of Scots are highly educated yet a similar proportion have few or no formal qualifications. Issues of belonging, loneliness and mental well-being are felt across the generations.
Belief in Scotland
More than half of Scots now say they have no religion. Christianity remains the largest religion. Yet while many still identify as Christian, far fewer are regularly attending church. Recent research indicates that adults aged 45-64 are the least likely to be attending church or reading the Bible regularly.
At the same time, there are striking signs of increasing Christian practices among the young, with those aged 18-34 having the highest levels of regular church attendance and Bible reading. This presents churches with both encouragement and challenge.
Growth in Christian practices
Church leaders are exposed to many competing narratives about the decline and growth of Christianity in Scotland. Many congregations have experienced stagnation, reduced church attendance or closure. Others are seeing new growth. By comparing research from 2015 and 2025, a national picture emerges that indicate significant changes.
Overall, in the last decade, regular church attendance has increased by 15% and regular Bible reading has doubled. While many congregations have struggled to attract and retain young people, the long term national picture points to above average increases in church attendance and Bible reading in adults under the age of 45.
Tracking A Generation
The data highlights 28-34 year olds who ten years ago were not in church but were reading the Bible. In an attempt to track this generation, we have examined two random samples from ten years apart. A decade on, the proportion of this generation attending church has multiplied, indicating a possible link with their exposure to the Bible.
However, over the same period, the proportion of those aged 45 and above attending church regularly has fallen, although their Bible reading rates have not declined.
These two findings indicate the care that must be taken in drawing conclusions about the causes of growth and decline of Christianity.
The data once again indicates great opportunities and great challenges for church leaders.
Opportunities for mission
The data points to real opportunities for churches in Scotland. Alongside the recent rise in Bible sales, one in four Scots say they ARE interested in learning more about the Bible. Those who are interested indicate different ways they would like to explore the Bible. Some through online material they can read on their own (27%), others through going to church (21%) or a group setting (16%). Scotland remains spiritually mixed, with many people unsure about belief in God and many still searching for meaning.
Get our email updates
Learn about our work and ways that you can share the Bible. Hear about our news, projects and partnership appeals by email.