Related Global Bible Month coverage
Read more about Bible engagement around the world.
YouVersion has recorded 8.5 million Australian installs, with another new install recorded every 48 seconds.
Sydney (Oct. 6, 2026) – Australia ranks 15th in the world for daily use of YouVersion’s Family of Apps, as new figures point to sustained local engagement with Scripture ahead of Global Bible Month this November. YouVersion has recorded 8.5 million installs across its Family of Apps in Australia, and the apps are installed locally at an average rate of once every 48 seconds.
This momentum is in keeping with global trends. After celebrating one billion installs worldwide last November, YouVersion added more than 160 million new installs across its Family of Apps in 2026. Daily engagement grew even faster than installs, a sign that people aren't just downloading the app, they're returning to it. Compared to 2025, daily use grew by over 13%, reaching 18.5 million people turning to the Bible each day.
A month for the Bible
These figures provide the backdrop for the return of Global Bible Month, a November initiative that brings together churches, publishers and partners like Alpha, The Salvation Army, Compassion and more to celebrate the impact of the Bible on people’s lives. At the centre of Global Bible Month is the 30-Day Bible Challenge with a simple invitation: spend time in the Bible every day this November. Nearly 3 million people around the world signed up in its first year in 2025, committing to engage with the Bible every day of the month, in print, through an app, by audio or in whatever format worked for them.
Last year, Australian users earned more badges for daily Bible engagement than any other country during Global Bible Month, demonstrating a hunger for Scripture and a commitment to building consistent rhythms of Bible engagement. This engagement is not limited to Sunday services. Rather, Australians are reading or listening to Scripture consistently and in everyday settings, including on the commute, at home, during a lunch break or before bed.
“Every day, more Australians are choosing to open the Bible App, showing there is a real and sustained interest in Scripture,” said Dave Adamson, YouVersion Australia Director. “Last year, Australians led the world in consistent Bible engagement during Global Bible Month. We’re excited to see people make space for the Bible again this November, whether they’ve read the Bible for years, are opening it for the first time or returning to it for the first time in a long time.”
Australian stories behind the numbers
Behind the numbers are individual Australians discovering the Bible in unexpected ways.
In Melbourne, Ethan’s story began when he found a lost iPhone. Unable to unlock the phone, he kept it charged so its owner could eventually track it down. Over the following days, one notification kept appearing on the home screen: YouVersion’s Verse of the Day.
Curiosity eventually led Ethan to download the Bible App for himself. A committed atheist, he began reading the Bible for the first time and later connected with a local church, where his exploration of Scripture developed into something more. In time, Ethan, his wife and their daughters all committed their lives to Christ and were baptised together, marking a profound new chapter for their family.
Another Australian, Steve, had spent years talking with friends about faith without feeling able to voice his deeper questions. Instead, he began searching privately and listening to Scripture through the Bible App. Months later, he surprised his friends with a message telling them that through listening to the Bible he had encountered Jesus and become a Christian.
For Dave Adamson, stories like these reveal what the engagement figures alone cannot.
“Behind every app open is a person. These personal stories remind us that people are opening the Bible for all sorts of reasons, sometimes through curiosity, sometimes because they’re searching for answers, hope or meaning. That’s the story we’re most interested in.”
Stories like Ethan’s and Steve’s give a human face to a wider pattern of people bringing deeply personal questions to Scripture. YouVersion’s 2026 search data shows “anxiety”, “hope” and “healing” among the year’s most searched terms, while “Psalm 91” was the single most-searched term in both Australia and worldwide.
Although search data alone cannot explain an individual user’s circumstances or beliefs, the Psalm’s themes of refuge, protection and comfort point to one reason people may be opening Scripture during periods of uncertainty.
Bringing the Bible to the world
YouVersion provides access to around 3,800 Bible versions in 2,400 languages and works with more than 45,000 churches and content partners globally. In Australia, YouVersion works with more than 5,500 churches, ministries and content creators.
As part of Global Bible Month, Scripture will also appear in major public spaces including Times Square in New York, Piccadilly Circus in London and Osaka’s Dotonbori district, alongside YouVersion Partners including The Chosen, BibleProject and 24-7 Prayer.
“This year, we’ve been encouraged by how many people are turning to Scripture for answers to their questions,” said Bobby Gruenewald, Founder and CEO of YouVersion. “Global Bible Month is our chance to celebrate that and invite even more people to experience it for themselves.”
To find out more about Global Bible Month, visit globalbiblemonth.com.
AboutYouVersion
YouVersion began in 2007 as a digital ministry of Life.Church, a local church in Oklahoma with a heart for global impact. Our mission is to lead people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. We’re building a movement that invites everyone into a daily rhythm with God’s Word. Today, the YouVersion Family of Apps helps people in every country engage with Scripture in their own language, every day. Everything we make is available for free because of a generous community of people like you. For more information about YouVersion, visit youversion.com/our-mission.
