Record surge in Bible reading on smartphones reported in Latin America
Digital platforms for reading Holy Scripture recorded unprecedented user growth in the first quarter of 2026 across Latin American countries.
In the first quarter of 2026, Latin America saw record levels of engagement with Bible reading via digital platforms. This was reported by El Mensaje Comunicaciones, as cited by Christian Daily.
The agency notes that the surge was not a short-lived “New Year’s effect,” but remained steady at a consistently high level.
According to the published data, nearly 2 million people subscribed to Bible reading plans on January 1 alone. On the first Sunday of the year, the YouVersion app surpassed 22.2 million active users in a single day – a 20 percent increase compared to the same period last year.
In Mexico, January 11 became the highest-usage day for the app in the country’s history – 500,000 active users in 24 hours. Record results were also registered in Colombia, Argentina, and El Salvador: several days in January 2026 entered the top ten most active days of all time.
According to the agency, the growing interest is tied to people’s search for spiritual support and hope amid today’s challenges. The strength of these tools, it says, lies in their ability to help form a daily spiritual habit.
Platforms operating in 18 Spanish-speaking countries continue to develop initiatives aimed at spreading the biblical message and supporting church communities throughout the region.
As the UOJ previously reported, a man in England was fined for quoting a Bible verse near an abortion clinic.
