Over 500 Million Christians Worldwide Face Severe Bible Access Restrictions, New Report Reveals

Over 500 million Christians around the world are struggling to get hold of a Bible, according to a new report that warns persecution, poverty and poor infrastructure are keeping Scripture out of reach.

The Bible Access Initiative's 2026 Bible Access List, released on Thursday, assesses 106 countries, 18 more than in its inaugural report last year. It considers both direct restrictions on obtaining the Bible and practical obstacles such as poverty, weak infrastructure and illiteracy, which can put Scripture beyond reach even where it is technically available.

Afghanistan Leads Bible Access Restrictions

Afghanistan has the strongest restrictions on Bible access, followed by Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, Eritrea and Mauritania, the report finds. All six countries fall within its 'maximum restrictions' category.

Turkmenistan, Libya, Sudan and Iran complete the top 10 countries with the strongest restrictions. Those four, together with Comoros and the Maldives, are classified as having 'extreme restrictions'.

China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are among the countries in the 'severe restrictions' category. The assessment also identifies countries with 'considerable restrictions' and 'some restrictions', reflecting differing levels of difficulty across the places examined.

These categories cover pressures beyond government bans and censorship. The report identifies extremist violence and pressure from families and communities among the barriers facing people seeking access to Scripture.

Shortages Add to Bible Access Challenges

The largest Bible shortages affect a different group of countries from those at the top of the restrictions ranking. The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria and India each have a shortage exceeding 10 million Bibles, according to the report.

Uganda, Tanzania and China each lack between 5 million and 10 million Bibles. Indonesia, Angola and Mozambique complete the top 10 for shortages, with each lacking between 3 million and 5 million copies.

Malawi, Rwanda, Madagascar and Kenya also fall within that 3 million to 5 million range. Countries including Cuba, Ghana and Haiti have shortages of between 1 million and 3 million Bibles.

The distinction between restrictions and shortages is apparent in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It is classified as having 'considerable restrictions', yet belongs to the group with shortages exceeding 10 million copies.

Why Online Availability Cannot Guarantee Bible Access

'We often hear that the Bible is more accessible than ever, but we must not confuse availability with access,' Bible Access List co-creator Wybo Nicolai cautioned in a statement accompanying the findings.

'Persecution-related Bible access restrictions can make accessing Scripture difficult or dangerous, while socioeconomic barriers can put a Bible beyond people's reach,' he explained. 'Even where Scripture is available digitally, limited internet coverage or unsafe online environments can still prevent people from accessing it.'

The report also identifies a lack of electricity as an obstacle to digital access. Its findings challenge the assumption that being able to purchase a Bible in many countries, or read one online, means everyone can obtain Scripture.

Ken Bitgood, founder and CEO of Digital Bible Society and co-creator of the list, described the report as 'more than a picture of the problem but a roadmap for showing where intentional, strategic action is needed.'

'We believe everyone deserves access to God's Word, and our goal is to equip others to join us in this mission, combining our efforts, resources and energy together to make this a reality,' he stated.

The Bible Access Initiative brings together Bible League International, Digital Bible Society, Frontlines International, The Voice of the Martyrs and YouVersion. Its overview is intended for Bible agencies, mission organisations and churches developing strategies to address restrictions and shortages.