Scripture Under Siege: 500 Million Christians Face Barriers to Bible Access

More than 500 million Christians around the world face serious barriers to obtaining or using a Bible, according to a new report documenting the effects of government repression, extremist violence, digital surveillance, and economic hardship.

The Bible Access List 2026, published by the Bible Access Initiative, examines conditions in 106 countries. It estimates that more than 250 million Christians live under “very difficult” or “severe” restrictions, with some risking imprisonment or death simply for possessing Scripture.

Afghanistan ranks first on the report’s Bible Restrictions List, followed by Yemen, Somalia, North Korea and Eritrea. Mauritania, Turkmenistan, Libya, Sudan and Iran complete the top 10.

“In Afghanistan, God’s Word is the most dangerous book any Afghan can possess, and discovery can cost them their life,” the report states.

Conditions are similarly severe in North Korea, where Christians are regarded as enemies of the state. Discovery of a Bible during a routine search could result in execution or a life sentence in a forced labor camp. Because keeping a physical copy is so dangerous, some believers depend on memorized passages.

Restrictions extend throughout the supply chain. Printing and distribution are prohibited or severely limited in 39 countries, while importing faces comparable barriers in 38. Personal Bible ownership is heavily restricted in 34 countries.

Digital access offers no guarantee of safety. An estimated 277 million Christians across 48 countries face monitored, restricted, or dangerous online environments. The report says phones may be inspected in Eritrea, foreign Christian websites are blocked in China, and online Bible use can attract deadly attention in Somalia.

Legal freedom also does not ensure practical access. More than 125 million Christians in 81 countries reportedly want a Bible but do not have one. The largest shortages are found in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Nigeria and India, each with more than 10 million believers lacking a copy.

Poverty, illiteracy, remote communities and poor infrastructure remain major obstacles. More than 400 million Christians across 42 countries are also estimated to lack internet access.

Despite the sobering findings, the initiative points to opportunities for action. It estimates that 54 million Bibles are needed in 18 countries where persecution is limited, and socioeconomic hardship is the primary barrier.

“A Bible that exists somewhere is not necessarily accessible to the person who wants it,” the report warns, calling for stronger delivery networks and safer ways to place Scripture into believers’ hands.

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