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Report Reveals Over 500 Million Christians Face Bible Access Restrictions
Confirmed
In Short: The Bible Access Initiative, a coalition of ministries committed to Bible accessibility, released a report revealing that more than 500 million Christians worldwide face restrictions on obtaining or using a Bible.
According to the report, government controls, extremist violence, and pressure from families and communities make Bible access difficult or dangerous for many Christians.
The Bible Access List, developed and published by the Bible Access Initiative, evaluates 106 countries and identifies the countries facing the greatest obstacles to Bible access.
The number of countries assessed increased from 88 in 2025 to 106 in 2026, with 87 countries meeting the criteria for the Bible Restrictions List and 81 included in the Bible Shortage List.
The report highlights that in North Korea, every aspect of Bible access is prohibited, and Christians are treated as enemies of the state, with a Bible discovered in a routine house search potentially leading to execution or a life sentence in a forced labor camp.
Even digital editions cannot guarantee safe access, with an estimated 277 million Christians in 48 countries facing an online environment that is unsafe, restricted, or monitored.
The Bible Access Initiative’s primary objective is to provide Bible agencies, mission organizations, and churches with a comprehensive and reliable overview of restrictions on Bible access and shortages experienced across different countries.
The report also notes that the Bible Access List is more than a picture of the problem but a roadmap for showing where intentional, strategic action is needed.
The Bible Access Initiative is a collaborative of global partners formed to develop and compile the annual Bible Access List, with a shared vision of making Scripture accessible and available to every person, in every nation, regardless of religious background.
What this adds
The report adds that the Bible Access Initiative is led by five steering partners: Bible League International, Digital Bible Society, Frontlines International, The Voice of the Martyrs, and YouVersion.
The report does not specify the exact number of Christians facing severe restrictions, but it estimates that more than 250 million Christians face very difficult or severe restrictions, with believers in some countries risking imprisonment or death for possessing Scripture.
Background
The Bible Access List, released by the Bible Access Initiative, reveals that more than 500 million Christians worldwide face restrictions on Bible access despite increased availability.
What's confirmed
- According to the report, government controls, extremist violence, and pressure from families and communities make Bible access difficult or dangerous for many Christians.
- The Bible Access List, developed and published by the Bible Access Initiative, evaluates 106 countries and identifies the countries facing the greatest obstacles to Bible access.
- The number of countries assessed increased from 88 in 2025 to 106 in 2026, with 87 countries meeting the criteria for the Bible Restrictions List and 81 included in the Bible Shortage List.
- The report highlights that in North Korea, every aspect of Bible access is prohibited, and Christians are treated as enemies of the state, with a Bible discovered in a routine house search potentially leading to execution or a life sentence in a forced labor camp.
- Even digital editions cannot guarantee safe access, with an estimated 277 million Christians in 48 countries facing an online environment that is unsafe, restricted, or monitored.
- The Bible Access Initiative’s primary objective is to provide Bible agencies, mission organizations, and churches with a comprehensive and reliable overview of restrictions on Bible access and shortages experienced across different countries.
- The report also notes that the Bible Access List is more than a picture of the problem but a roadmap for showing where intentional, strategic action is needed.
- The Bible Access Initiative is a collaborative of global partners formed to develop and compile the annual Bible Access List, with a shared vision of making Scripture accessible and available to every person, in every nation, regardless of religious background.
What's still developing
- “We often hear that the Bible is more accessible than ever, but we must not confuse availability with access,” said Wybo Nicolai, co-founder of the Bible Access List.
- The Bible Access List is developed and published by Bible Access Initiative, which is led by five steering partners: Bible League International, Digital Bible Society, Frontlines International, The Voice of the Martyrs and YouVersion.
- For more information including data, country profiles and maps related to the Bible Access List, visit bibleaccesslist.org.
- Its mission is to provide crucial information for enhancing strategic planning efforts aimed at addressing Bible access challenges more effectively.
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- Speakers at the Rimini Meeting highlighted persecution of Christians, violence in Nigeria and Lebanon, and the importance of defending freedom of belief for people of all faiths.
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- They do not kill on a confessional basis, so it is inaccurate to say that today they persecute only Christians.