In a year bookmarked among Bible translation movements, the percentage of the world’s population with access to at least some Scripture has reached more than 99 percent.
That is one of several encouraging statistics reflected in the most recent monthly “Snapshot” from ProgressBible, the entity that tracks global Scripture access statistics.
As access continues to spread, Bible translation leaders are re-emphasising that the focus is not just on counting down projects and languages. It is for people in all language communities to engage with God’s Word and experience transformation—individuals, communities, even nations. This means an ongoing commitment (and growing realisation) that Bible translation is a mission of the worldwide church, not just specialised organisations.
Stephen Coertze, Executive Director of the Wycliffe Global Alliance, signalled these emphases in his closing remarks at the Alliance’s Global Gathering last November in Johannesburg:
“In boldness we will hone newly discovered approaches to Bible translation—to ensure quality and timely translations that lead to transformed lives. We will remain focused on training and equipping Bible translators, (and) improving consultancy to ensure quality translations. We will advocate for whole Scripture translation—both testaments. As for the church and its central role in Bible translation, we will come home, and we will take the church with us to the ends of the earth.”
Exponential progress
Vision 2025, adopted in 1999 by Wycliffe Bible Translators International* and SIL, envisioned Bible translation to be started within a generation for every language that still needs it. Some organisations have used this year as the specific goal, while others have seen Vision 2025 as more of a general challenge.
Regardless, the progress over 26 years has been remarkable. As of 1 August, 2025, just 544 of the world’s 7,396 living languages remain on the waiting list for Bible translation to begin. A year ago, the number was 985 languages. In 2020, it was more than 2,000. In 1999, it was more than 5,000.
Put another way: Since 1999, Bible translation movements have engaged more than 4,600 languages that had no Scripture access before then. Short of a miracle, not every language can or will be reached by the end of 2025.
The 544 remaining languages represent 36.8 million people. That figure is slightly higher than a year ago, because of four newly recognised Asian languages with a combined population of more than 21 million, said Terry Dehart, Data Analyst for ProgressBible. But the remaining number of languages and people is still smaller than some ever imagined possible.
Bible translation organisations and churches have taken varying approaches to Vision 2025, Dehart said. Some have focused on starting a maximum number of new language projects. Others have focused on the question, “Is this language truly vital, or is it already well-served by Scripture in a second language?” In fact, Dehart added, 93 of the world’s 392 sign languages have come off the waiting-to-start list for one of those two reasons.
For Vision 2025 in the past year, these countries saw the biggest drop in number of languages needing translation to begin:
| Country | Number reduced by: |
| Papua New Guinea | 114 |
| Indonesia | 113 |
| Cameroon | 28 |
| Vanuatu | 25 |
| Central African Republic | 24 |
| Nigeria | 20 |
| Vietnam | 19 |
Though 4,457 languages have Bible translation “work in progress”, that doesn’t always mean people have Scripture access yet. In fact, 1,712 languages from the work-in-progress list do not have any verses translated yet. The flurry of new projects in the past several years means some are still in the organising stages.
No global population or Bible translation statistics are ever exact. Populations change constantly, languages go out of use and data reliability can change based on factors like wars, persecution and human migration. Still, ProgressBible provides the best available numbers. For that reason, the Alliance has scaled back its own annual calculations and directs anyone interested to ProgressBible’s abundance of statistics. The monthly Snapshot provides the most up-to-date information.
*Wycliffe Bible Translators International is now known as the Wycliffe Global Alliance, but in 1999, only about 40 organisations were represented as Vision 2025 was adopted. Today the Alliance has more than 100 organisations worldwide.
- Download our 2025 infographic (shown above): JPG | PDF
- 2024 statistics
ProgressBible updates its Scripture Access statistics monthly. For more information, statistics and data, contact ProgressBible:
- Email: progress-bible@sil.org
- Website: https://progress.bible/
The Journey Podcast: From 2024, a conversation about how Bible translation statistics are gathered, reported and interpreted.
Top photo: A string of lightbulbs along a stone breakwater in Amed, Bali Indonesia. Photo: Gary McMaster, Wycliffe Australia
Story: Gwen Davies, Jim Killam, Wycliffe Global Alliance
