Press release: embargoed until 30 September
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A Jakaltek girl holds a copoy of the Bible in her language at its launch in Guatemala in 2026 That’s the main headline from what has been another exceptional year in Bible translation, as revealed in the annual Bible translation statistics (released 30 September – United Nations’ International Translation Day).
There has been extraordinary progress this year that builds on the record-breaking progress of last year. As we chase zero, the day is getting closer when everyone has access to God’s word in their own language, and we no longer talk about the 1 in 5 people currently still waiting for the Bible in their language, but about the 1 in 50 or the 1 in 500 still waiting… And, one day, when there are no people waiting.
The progress we have seen in the past few years has continued. Among the highlights are:
This past year, Bibles have been launched at the rate of 1 every 2 weeks. The 28 Bibles launched is actually the joint highest number ever in one year!
An important milestone was passed this year – the complete Bible was launched in its 800th language – one of 28 launched this year! It means around 6.2 billion people in over 800 language communities now have the complete Bible in their own languages.
In another exceptional year, 70 New Testaments have been launched. That’s more than one New Testament every 6 days throughout the year!
Combining the 28 Bibles and the 70 New Testaments, the total of 98 means we have had a Bible or New Testament launched at a rate of over one every 4 days.
We continue to home in on the day when all people have at least some Scripture in their language. The number of languages waiting for work to begin is now 543*: five years ago, it was 1,892! That’s a reduction from 25% of all languages to just 7%!
This year, 101 million people have the Bible in their language for the first time. That’s more than the population of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Australia combined.
A further 29 million people have the New Testament in their language for the first time. That’s almost the populations of the Netherlands and Belgium combined.
A total of 87 languages have selections of Scripture for the first time. The speakers of these 87 languages are now able to hear or read some of God’s word in their language, something they couldn’t do last year!
A Bamunka girl reads the Bamunka New Testament at its launch in Cameroon For a long time, the idea of chasing zero – of getting to that place where there are no languages without Scripture – just didn’t seem possible. Yet now, it is eminently possible, within this generation!
Wycliffe continues to work with its partners to fulfil the vision of creating a world where everyone can know Jesus through the Bible. Right now, more people than ever have access to God’s word in their own language. And more communities than ever have taken the first steps towards getting Scripture in the language that speaks to them best.
James Poole, executive director of Wycliffe, says:
‘It is so wonderful to see the progress in Bible translation continue. That means that more people now have God’s word in the language that speaks to them best. But the numbers aren’t the goal. What matters is that more people can know Jesus through the Bible – and because of that lives, churches and communities are transformed.’
‘We are living through a remarkable moment in Bible translation. God has graciously enabled this extraordinary progress, through translators around the world and through everyone who prays and gives. But the task is not finished. 1 in 5 people are still waiting for the Bible in the language that speaks to them best. So this is a time not to slow down, but to press on – together, with urgency and in dependence on God until God’s word is unlocked for every heart.’
*This excludes languages that have insufficient vitality to support translationYou can access the whole story, including quotes and downloadable images, via the links below:
Download a lo-res version of the full State of the Bible 2026 report here.
Download the press release text here.
Download the full report text here.
Image 3 – The Marakwet Bible is presented to the people at its launch in Kenya on 1 August 2026
Image 9 – Progress in the number of languages with the whole Bible translated, 1800–2026
Image 11 – Infographic 1 with some of the featured data
Image 12 – Infographic 2 with some of the featured data
Larger versions of these images are available on request.
