100 Million Christians Lack Access to the Bible, Report Warns

100 Million Christians Lack Access to the Bible, Report Warns

A new global study has revealed that more than 100 million Christians around the world live without access to a Bible. A situation some experts describe as “a modern famine of the Word.”

The Bible Access List, released Thursday by the Bible Access Initiative, draws on data from 88 countries to map where Scripture is most restricted or unavailable. The findings show two major crises: legal barriers that prevent distribution and widespread shortages where demand far outpaces supply.

According to the report, Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, North Korea, and Mauritania are the most restrictive nations for Bible ownership. Meanwhile, the greatest shortages are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Ethiopia, India, and China, where millions of believers still cannot obtain a personal copy.

ALSO READ: CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH THE LIVING WATER DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE

“Unfettered access to the Bible is not a universal standard,” said Ken Bitgood, founder and CEO of the Digital Bible Society, one of the initiative’s founding partners. He noted that the new data dispels assumptions that the Bible is easily available worldwide.

Co-author Wybo Nicolai called the findings “a modern famine,” stressing that the lack of access is not due to indifference but to real obstacles. “Many have never seen a Bible in their language, the format they prefer, or at a price they can afford,” he said.

The research measures both restrictions such as government bans, extremist threats, and censorship and shortages, including poverty, conflict, and displacement. Together, these factors create severe inequalities in how people encounter Scripture.

Project coordinator Jaap van Bezooijen said the report aims to guide mission organizations and churches toward better-targeted solutions. “One size doesn’t fit all,” he explained. “Digital tools can help, but for those offline, under surveillance, or in extreme poverty, printed and audio Bibles are still vital.”

The Bible Access Initiative, founded by Open Doors International and the Digital Bible Society, brings together partners such as Frontlines International, Bible League International, and Biblical. Its goal is to produce reliable data to help close the Bible gap for millions of believers worldwide.

The full report, including regional profiles and interactive maps, is available at bibleaccesslist.org.

 

 

 

Content Credit: Moyosola Oni 

Image Credit: Google .Com