What happened
A recent analysis by the Bible Access Initiative has found that approximately half a billion Christians worldwide face significant barriers to accessing the Bible. Despite advancements in technology, various obstacles such as persecution, poverty, and inadequate infrastructure hinder Scripture access for many believers.
The 2026 Bible Access List, which evaluates 106 countries, identifies key challenges to Bible access, including persecution-related restrictions, social hostility, and socioeconomic issues like poverty and limited internet access. According to the report, 125 million Christians are unable to access the Bible in any format, even in countries where it is technically allowed.
The top five countries with the most severe restrictions on Bible access are Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, and Eritrea. In these countries, possessing a Bible can be dangerous, and discovery can result in severe punishment, including execution or imprisonment. Additionally, the report highlights countries where believers do not face legal restrictions but still suffer from a shortage of Bible access, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, India, and Uganda.
In some of these countries, poverty and lack of infrastructure are significant obstacles to Bible access. For example, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, fewer than 33% of Christians own a Bible, despite it being legal to possess one. The country's poverty and limited access to electricity and transportation make it difficult for people to obtain a Bible.
