2025 Global Scripture Access
Note: Starting in 2025, the Alliance produces a shortened annual summary of the latest Scripture Access statistics. For much more, visit ProgressBible.
2025 Report
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 August 2025 “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.
2024 Report
2024 Global Scripture Access
Total languages in the world: 7,396
Number of known users: 7.45 billion*
*The global population is estimated to be 8.12 billion. However, language user statistics tend to lag behind actual population statistics due to challenges in gathering and updating information. According to the most recently available information in SIL’s Ethnologue, 7.45 billion people use the world’s 7,396 known languages. For statistical agreement, percentages used here are based on the Ethnologue population number. Thus, global population percentages are given as ‘up to…’ rather than an exact number.
Languages and people with Scripture
Scripture access status
**In most cases, the people use another language which already has at least some Scripture. Sometimes, their first language is disappearing from use altogether. The reality is often more complex.
Bible translation in progress
Bible translation is currently happening in 3,526 languages in 173 countries. Those languages and people numbers are embedded in the categories “At least some Scripture” and “Initial work in progress”. This current work impacts 1.26 billion people, or about 16.9 percent of all language users. This number does not include people who already have a full Bible but are updating their existing translations.
Need Bible translation to start
Wycliffe Global Alliance involvement snapshot, 2024
- Alliance organisations are working in at least 3,146 languages.
- Alliance organisations are involved in work in at least 146 countries.
Wycliffe Global Alliance historical snapshot
- Over their histories, Alliance organisations have worked with at least 1,895 language communities in which there is now a New Testament or Bible.***
- Over their histories, Alliance organisations have been involved in translating Scripture portions in an additional 871 languages.
***This includes assisting in initial translation and training, providing consultant help and funding, and participating in Scripture engagement activities and translation revisions.
Statistics are rarely as simple as the numbers imply
Even though we strive to provide an accurate snapshot, Scripture access statistics are complex. For example, determining translation need is not as simple as determining which languages do or do not have Scripture. Most of the languages with “some Scripture” need more, and even full Bibles often undergo revisions. Also, comparisons with previous annual statistics are challenging and sometimes not useful, as data definitions and collection methods improve.
A better way of measuring Bible translation progress
Statistics provide one lens through which to measure progress in worldwide Bible translation. The real stories are found in changed lives and communities as people encounter God through his Word, and as the worldwide church moves toward greater unity in Christ.
Alliance organisations continue to explore other important indicators of progress such as:
- How are language communities experiencing life-changing impact from Scripture?
- Are churches increasingly taking leadership in the work of Bible translation?
- Are churches, communities, and organisations partnering more effectively to carry out the work of translation together?
To read more, see: A missiology of progress: Assessing advancement in the Bible translation movement by Dr. Kirk Franklin.
Wycliffe Global Alliance presentations of global Scripture access statistics are compiled annually from data provided through ProgressBible by Alliance organisations, SIL International, United Bible Societies and many other partners. Data is current as of 1 September 2024, and is based on the most recently available information about first language users in SIL’s Ethnologue.
Further stories about people and projects are available at wycliffe.net and from your nearest Alliance organisation.