35.5 Million Bibles Distributed Around the World in 2022
Bible societies distributed about 35.5 million Bibles worldwide in 2022, according to a Scripture Distribution Statistics report released by the United Bible Societies. That is around 3 million more copies than they distributed in 2021. Most of the copies were in Spanish or English.
Three countries with the highest Bible distribution numbers were:
- Brazil – 4.8 million Bibles distributed
- USA – 2.6 million Bibles distributed
- India – 2.5 million Bibles distributed
In Communist China, Bible societies who participated in the report gave out 1.8 million Bibles—up from 1.2 million the year before. Another Asian country, Cambodia, saw its Bible distribution double to 25,000 Bibles.
Most of the 35.5 million Bibles were print copies, but digital downloads have increased dramatically. Around 28% of the Bibles were downloaded onto devices through the internet, amounting to 10 million copies downloaded.
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Dirk Gevers, general secretary of the World Union, told Evangelical Focus: “The distribution of the Bible, like its translation, is rooted in the very depths of our fellowship.” He said their focus on giving out Bibles globally aims to “equally strengthen individuals and communities, promote spiritual growth and values such as generosity, compassion and unity that unite us worldwide.”
Statistics in the United Bible Societies report draws its numbers from those reported by its partner organizations only, meaning the total number of Bibles distributed worldwide is greater. United Bible Societies says its network of Bible societies operates in 240 countries and territories around the world.
United Bible Societies earns five stars and a “D” transparency grade in the MinistryWatch database, and a donor confidence score of 79.
Main photo: Children at a distribution campaign in Vietnam / Photo courtesy of United Bible Societies.
