Bible Access Initiative report finds 500 million Christians face restrictions

A new report from the Bible Access Initiative reveals that over 500 million Christians worldwide face restrictions in accessing the Bible. The findings, released in the 2026 Bible Access List, examine 106 countries to identify barriers ranging from government hostility and persecution to socioeconomic factors such as high illiteracy rates and lack of economic resources.

The report categorizes restrictions into several levels. Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, North Korea, Eritrea, and Mauritania are identified as having “maximum restrictions.” Countries such as Turkmenistan, Libya, Sudan, and Iran are classified under “extreme restrictions.”

Other nations facing “severe restrictions” include China, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and several others across Africa and Asia. The initiative, founded by Open Doors International and Digital Bible Society, notes that these barriers create a “modern famine” of scripture access due to printing limitations and legal obstacles.