Sales of quiz books and Bibles in the UK surged in 2025, bucking a decline in overall non-fiction spending, according to NielsenIQ BookData. Quiz book spending rose by 24 percent, marking the best year since records began in 1998, while Bible purchases increased by 19 percent to £6.3 million. These gains occurred as non-fiction sales fell to their lowest level since 2014.
Data released by NielsenIQ BookData, which manages ISBN and SAN agencies for the UK and Ireland, shows that 2025 marked a standout year for certain non-fiction categories amid broader challenges. Spending on quiz books increased by nearly a quarter, reaching the highest levels since tracking started in 1998. Bestselling titles included spin-offs from the ITV gameshow The 1% Club, hosted by Lee Mack and published by Transworld, a division of Penguin Random House.
Bible sales also saw a sharp rise, up 19 percent from the previous year, with total UK sales reaching £6.3 million—an increase of £3.6 million compared to 2019. This brought Bible purchases to their highest in almost three decades.
In contrast, overall non-fiction spending slumped to £791 million, a 5 percent decrease and the lowest since 2014, with 59 million units sold, down 6 percent year-on-year. Adult fiction spending rose by 5 percent, though print fiction volume dipped slightly by 0.5 percent. Combined print book sales totaled £1.81 billion.
The average cost of a book hit a record £9.52, up 2 percent from 2024, attributed to inflation and rising production costs. Audiobook sales increased by 6 percent, and comic strips and graphic novels also gained popularity.
Philip Stone, head of publisher account management at NielsenIQ BookData, stated: “NielsenIQ BookData’s 2025 findings reveal a resilient book market, with readers continuing to invest in stories despite a softer year overall. Fiction remained the standout performer, fuelled by strong growth in sci-fi and fantasy, horror and graphic novels, while children’s and young adult books also saw encouraging gains in key areas. Non-fiction faced greater pressure, though the popularity of trivia, quiz books and religious titles highlights sustained demand for escapism and insight.”
Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune, the latest in the Thursday Murder Club series, topped the 2025 bestsellers list with 478,000 copies sold. Julia Donaldson, known for The Gruffalo, was the UK’s top-selling author with 3.3 million copies, followed by Freida McFadden with 2.6 million and Dav Pilkey with 1.5 million. McFadden’s The Housemaid was adapted into a film starring Sydney Sweeney, released in December 2025.
Stone added: “With bestselling authors such as Richard Osman, Freida McFadden, Julia Donaldson and Dav Pilkey leading another solid year, publishers, booksellers and authors continue to keep the market energised, innovative and full of opportunity. The momentum feels especially fitting as we enter the National Year Of Reading and work to inspire more people across the UK to make reading a regular part of their lives.”
The data was published ahead of the London Book Fair, scheduled for March 10 to 12 at Olympia London.
