Scripture translations completed for 10 per cent of the world’s population in 2021

Bible Societies across the world completed Scripture translations in 90 languages last year used by 794 million people – just over 10 per cent of the world’s population.

Despite a second year of disruption caused by Covid, 48 language groups – a total of 11 million people – received first Scripture translations, meaning that they were not previously available in those languages.

New or revised translations were completed in languages used by 783 million people. These provide Scripture access to language communities whose needs are no longer met by previous translations.

God speaking to our hearts

First portions or additional portions of Scripture were also made available in another 37 languages across the world, including four in Guatemala, the most populous country in Central America with a population of 17 million. Dora Marina Cuc Bocel, 41, who leads a translation team in Guatemala, where more than 20 languages are spoken, often reads out loud, from newly translated Scripture portions, to her mother and grandmother who can’t read.

They really pay attention,’ says Dora. ‘They say to me, “Hearing it in their heart language is so beautiful and exciting! We understand it. It’s God speaking to our hearts.” This motivates me because, just as they are blessed by the word of God in our language, so many others will also be blessed.’

This year, your kind giving in England and Wales is supporting translations of the Bible into more languages in Costa Rica, Guatemala, as well as for ethnic minorities in regions we cannot name for security reasons. In Africa, your generosity means work progresses on the translation of Scriptures and Study Bibles in countries including Burkina Faso, Eritrea, Eswatini, Gabon, Mali, Nigeria, The Gambia and Togo. This list of countries all around the world does not include the many revisions and improved translations that your support is making possible.

5.8 billion people

Thanks to the efforts of Bible Societies and other Bible translation agencies, at the start of 2022 the full Bible is available in 719 languages spoken by 5.8 billion people. Around 70 per cent of these were translated by Bible Societies, and that is all down to your support.

There is still work to be done, though. More than half of the world’s languages, used by 219 million people, still have no Scripture translations at all. And 1.5 billion people do not have the full Bible in their heart language. The goal of Bible mission is to make the Scripture available and easily accessible in every language. 

We hope to complete 1,200 Scripture translations by 2038. Of those, 880 will be first translations, and another 320 are new or revised translations.Work is also taking place on Scriptures in Braille and in different sign languages.

Thank you for your support for this amazing work.

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