by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – More than half a billion Christians worldwide face restrictions that make obtaining or reading the Bible difficult or dangerous, according to a new international report revealing the enormous challenges believers face in accessing God’s Word.
The 2026 Bible Access List, released by the Bible Access Initiative, examined 106 countries and found that more than 250 million Christians face particularly severe restrictions, including government persecution, extremist violence, and pressure from families and communities.
Afghanistan ranks as the world’s most restrictive country for Bible access, followed by Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, and Eritrea. In some nations, possessing Scripture can result in imprisonment or even death.
The report also identified widespread Bible shortages, with more than 125 million Christians wanting a Bible but lacking access to one. The Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and India face some of the largest shortages, each accounting for more than 10 million believers without Scripture.
Economic hardship presents another major obstacle. More than 550 million Christians across 33 countries face severe socioeconomic barriers, including poverty, inadequate infrastructure, illiteracy, and limited electricity.
Even digital technology has failed to bridge the gap. Researchers estimate that more than 400 million Christians across 42 countries lack internet access, while 277 million live in countries where accessing Scripture online is unsafe or restricted.
“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 findings underscore a striking contrast: While Christians in much of the Western world enjoy unprecedented access to Scripture, millions of believers elsewhere still risk their freedom, livelihoods, and sometimes their lives simply to possess God’s Word.
For Christian ministries and churches worldwide, the report highlights the continuing urgency of Bible distribution, religious freedom advocacy, and efforts to bring Scripture to believers who remain without it.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
