From Somalia to North Korea: The Countries Where Bible Access Is Most Restricted

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Millions of Christians are facing "extreme" or "severe" restrictions on accessing the Bible in nearly three-dozen countries, according to a recent report by the Bible Access Initiative.

Bible Access List (BAL), a project by Open Doors International and the Digital Bible Society, released the findings of its "Bible Access List" last Thursday, which examined 88 countries that have placed restrictions on accessing the Bible due to persecution, legal barriers, poverty, and censorship.

In a statement provided to The Christian Post, Wybo Nicolai, the co-creator of BAL, described these types of restrictions as "a modern famine."

"A modern famine persists, not due to apathy, but because of barriers that prevent people from accessing the Bible," said Nicolai.

"These barriers differ in form, but the result is the same: millions live cut off from God's Word. Many have never seen a Bible in their language, format they prefer, or price range they can afford, or have no way to safely obtain one."

Somalia, Afghanistan, Yemen, North Korea, and Mauritania rank among the worst on the list, as these countries have laws banning the distribution, possession, or even digital access to the Bible, putting Christians at risk of imprisonment or execution. Other countries that round out the top 10 worst countries on the list include Eritrea, Libya, Algeria, Iran, and Turkmenistan. Overall, the report identified 15 countries that had "extreme restrictions."

Subsequently, 18 nations had "severe restrictions" on Bible access, including Saudi Arabia (No. 18), Pakistan (No. 20), China (No. 25), Azerbaijan (No. 30), and Kuwait (No. 32).

Armenia, ranked 87th on the list, is considered the first nation to adopt Christianity as its state religion. Although 95% of the population identifies as Christians, the country does not have restrictions on owning or distributing Bibles in Armenia.

"Even in a country where Christianity is culturally dominant, the actual ability to read and engage with God's Word remains limited for most," the report states.

Brazil is ranked at 88 at the very bottom of the list, with Bible access being a struggle in some parts of the nation due to "extreme poverty."

"Even when Bibles are available for purchase, many families are forced to prioritize food and shelter over spiritual resources," stated Brazil's profile. "To make matters worse, high taxation and corruption drive up the costs of printed materials, including Bibles."

Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.