United Bible Societies Global Scripture Distribution Report 2016 Annual Progress UBS Global Scripture Distribution Report 2016 1
Scripture distribution tops 400 million for third year running For the third year running, Bible Societies have distributed more than 400 million Scripture items around the world including more than 34 million. That s enough for more than 5% of the world s population. And since the beginning of the decade, the United Bible Societies fellowship (UBS) has distributed enough Scripture material for two out of every five people on the planet. Global Scripture distribution in 2016 The overall 2016 total almost 401.4 million includes,, Gospels and smaller Scripture items like booklets for people learning to read. It s slightly lower than 2015 s total, but is up on the 2010 total by more than 34 million items. The figures are compiled from annual Scripture distribution numbers reported by Bible Societies around the world, and include local sales and exports of Scripture material*. Europe and the Middle East Rise of the non-print Bible The distribution of nonprint such as digital downloads, CDs, Scripture texts and DVDs has more than doubled across the world in 2016, driven by the growing demand for on our phones and devices. More than three million nonprint were distributed in 2016, up from less than 1.3 million in 2015. There s been an even sharper increase since 2010, when the Fellowship distributed less than 200,000 non-print in a year. The trend mirrors growing internet use around the world. Around 45% of the world s population now have access to the internet 1, and by 2020 seven out of every 10 people on the planet will own a smartphone 2. We spend more time on our phones than any other media. Top of the non-print Bible distribution list is Brazil, where the UBS Bible App was launched in August 2015. More than 1.5 million were made available through it in 2016. The app is now being used by more than 30 Bible Societies across the world. It offers free downloadable Bible translations, and premium Non print Bible distribution this decade content such as study are available to buy. Meanwhile, the global Digital Bible Library now has Scripture in 1,134 languages, which reach a total audience of more than five billion people. UBS has supplied more than 80% of the full held in the library. UBS Digital Publishing Strategist Nelson Saba said, Bible Societies are extremely successful at printing, and now we are right at the forefront of digital Bible mission too. 2,983,938 9,275,634 191,987 334,511 416,083 979,815 766,495 1,264,624 3,092,066 Americas 15,666,083 328,016,106 Africa 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 6,627,682 9,030,306 Asia Pacific One million non-print for Iranians Total Global Figures 2016 9,014,054 55,034,154 34,291,757 13,468,950 401,356,200 *Data was collected up to the end of May 2017. 93% of Bible Societies responded. In the case of non-respondents, the previous 2 year s average data was given as their 2016 distribution data. The Iranian Bible Society, which supplies Persian Scriptures to Iranian Christians around the world, has made God s Word available to more than 1.5 million people in 2016. The organisation, which was formed in 2014 after Bible Society s offices in Iran were closed in 1990, distributed a million nonprint and half a million non-print New, and exported 7,500 and 9,400 New. It s double what they distributed in 2015. Nahid Sepehrifard, who leads the team, said, The figure of one million is a very conservative estimate. The reality is a much larger impact. We are using multiple platforms satellite TV, radio, the internet, micro SD cards and intranet - to distribute audio and digital versions of the Today s Persian Version Bible in many shapes and formats. 1 2 UBS Global Scripture Distribution Report 2016 Internetlivestats.com. 2 Ericsson Mobility Report, 2015. UBS Global Scripture Distribution Report 2016 3
Top five countries for the local distribution of full in 2016 USA 2,981,407 China 3,514,286 Nigeria 1,965,001 India 1,897,995 Distribution surges Brazil Many countries have seen a sudden spike in Bible distribution in 2016. In Bangladesh, where nine out of 10 people are Muslim, the Bible Society team distributed more than eight times as many New as in the previous year. Altogether they provided 105,081 New through book fairs, distribution among rural believers and an initiative to reach mothers and families. A spokesman said, Through these Scriptures, many lives have been transformed, and many have accepted Christ. Church attendance has increased, children have a good spiritual foundation and family relationships are strengthened. The Palestinian Bible Society distributed five times as many New in 2016, compared to 2015. This was against a backdrop of violent outbursts between Israelis and Palestinians throughout the year, which raised tension and volatility in the region. And during a historic year for Cuba, when former ruler Fidel Castro died and Barack Obama, then President of the United States, made an unprecedented visit to the country, Scripture distribution soared. The number of and Scripture portions made available by the Cuba Bible Commission more than doubled, with more than 350,000 full provided in the nation. The distribution effort was part of the One million for Cuba campaign, which was launched in 2013 and is due to run until the end of next year. Meanwhile, significant increases were also seen in Bible distribution in Germany where the team provided more than twice as many to people in 2016, compared to 2015 and the United States of America which saw a big increase in the distribution of New. John Greco, Managing Director of Operations at American Bible Society, said, Our long term vision is to have 100 million people in the US actively engaged with God s word by 2026, and we are focusing on major cities with, New and structured engagement programmes. So also will be the word that I speak it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do. Isaiah 55:11 (GNT) 6,773,421 Milestone for Brazil At the end of 2016, Bible Society of Brazil reached the milestone of 150 million and New produced at its Bible Press since 1995. It s one of the largest printing plants in the world primarily for the production of Scriptures. Executive Director Rudi Zimmer said, In recent decades, more than in any other period, Brazilian churches have been involved in spreading the Word, making Brazil the largest field of Holy Scripture distribution around the world today. Shifting trends in Africa The distribution of in Africa went up by almost a third between 2015 and 2016, and the distribution of other Scripture booklets and leaflets all increased over the same period. However, the total Scripture distribution across the continent has fallen for the third year running. In 2013, almost 15.6 million Scripture items were distributed, including 6.7 million full. But over the past three years, Scripture distribution in Africa has dropped by 42%. In 2016 just over nine million Scripture items were provided. African Bible Societies continue to distribute the highest percentage of full out of any region in the world. In 2016, three out of four of all Scripture items made available in Africa was a full Bible. By comparison, just 7% of Scripture distributed in the other three regions have been full. 4 UBS Global Scripture Distribution Report 2016 UBS Global Scripture Distribution Report 2016 5
UBS Global Scripture Distribution Summary (Local & export, excluding licensed) Through these Scriptures, many lives have been transformed. Bangladesh Bible Society Area Africa Americas Asia Pacific Europe, Middle East Global Totals Year Local Exports Total Local Exports Total Scriptures Local Scriptures Exports Scriptures 2010 5,526,726 43,944 5,570,670 180,359 85 180,444 11,087,961 47,243 11,135,204 2011 6,114,622 39,443 6,154,065 280,449 6,441 286,890 14,123,466 57,314 14,180,780 2012 6,186,341 6,066 6,192,407 190,477 1,309 191,786 14,013,355 8,108 14,021,463 2013 6,740,523 38,115 6,778,638 131,080 273 131,353 15,516,900 42,980 15,559,880 2014 7,275,701 34,542 7,310,243 207,654 5,500 213,154 10,703,132 40,364 10,743,496 2015 7,523,223 53,904 7,577,127 171,147 3,104 174,251 9,598,389 57,610 9,655,999 2016 6,541,756 85,926 6,627,682 211,650 11,500 223,150 8,932,500 97,806 9,030,306 2010 11,113,960 27,491 11,141,451 1,974,126 1,765 1,975,891 285,972,918 33,147 286,006,065 2011 13,299,586 59,153 13,358,739 1,891,385 2,894 1,894,279 299,208,116 71,853 299,279,969 2012 13,486,788 21,446 13,508,234 1,694,875 9,970 1,704,845 313,874,927 94,524 313,969,451 2013 14,413,041 76,399 14,489,440 1,582,312 45,323 1,627,635 314,233,266 199,851 314,433,117 2014 14,327,493 23,880 14,351,373 1,952,046 3,181 1,955,227 341,444,024 50,601 341,494,625 2015 14,699,426 54,630 14,754,056 1,287,285 31,287 1,318,572 330,205,971 148,255 330,354,226 2016 14,398,297 1,267,787 15,666,083 1,250,773 15,763 1,266,536 326,477,426 1,538,680 328,016,106 2010 10,446,933 77,554 10,524,487 6,503,507 4,461 6,507,968 62,275,570 202,421 62,477,991 2011 10,031,605 46,126 10,077,731 6,366,302 3,552 6,369,854 59,845,035 55,969 59,901,004 2012 9,980,957 65,253 10,046,210 9,061,949 2,411 9,064,360 69,863,915 79,631 69,943,546 2013 9,039,761 17,766 9,057,527 9,265,188 93,963 9,359,151 63,933,829 117,673 64,051,502 2014 10,259,148 25,783 10,284,931 8,208,504 3,340 8,211,844 68,001,908 33,777 68,035,685 2015 9,628,547 23,506 9,652,053 9,358,039 4,874 9,362,913 68,655,792 33,960 68,689,752 2016 8,996,048 18,006 9,014,054 8,779,509 3,515 8,783,024 55,003,686 30,468 55,034,154 2010 2,037,166 507,095 2,544,261 1,219,430 30,148 1,249,578 6,468,540 602,629 7,071,169 2011 2,079,179 489,911 2,569,090 1,225,041 70,980 1,296,021 7,272,629 594,977 7,867,606 2012 1,729,327 676,407 2,405,734 1,250,016 687,190 1,937,206 7,632,796 1,376,431 9,009,227 2013 1,322,613 410,361 1,732,974 1,213,310 1,081,948 2,295,258 4,032,556 1,503,103 5,535,659 2014 1,421,746 537,919 1,959,665 1,195,807 1,623,561 2,819,368 5,622,297 2,296,070 7,918,367 2015 1,895,737 517,638 2,413,375 1,201,136 970,542 2,171,678 8,424,886 1,592,365 10,017,251 2016 2,873,425 110,513 2,983,938 1,616,627 1,579,613 3,196,240 7,485,894 1,789,740 9,275,634 2010 29,124,785 656,084 29,780,869 9,877,422 36,459 9,913,881 365,804,989 885,440 366,690,429 2011 31,524,992 634,633 32,159,625 9,763,177 83,867 9,847,044 380,449,246 780,113 381,229,359 2012 31,383,413 769,172 32,152,585 12,197,317 700,880 12,898,197 405,384,993 1,558,694 406,943,687 2013 31,515,938 542,641 32,058,579 12,191,890 1,221,507 13,413,397 397,716,551 1,863,607 399,580,158 2014 33,284,088 622,124 33,906,212 11,564,011 1,635,582 13,199,593 425,771,361 2,420,812 428,192,173 2015 33,746,933 649,678 34,396,611 12,017,607 1,009,807 13,027,414 416,885,038 1,832,190 418,717,228 2016 32,809,525 1,482,232 34,291,757 11,858,559 1,610,391 13,468,950 397,899,506 3,456,694 401,356,200 6 UBS Global Scripture Distribution Report 2016 UBS Global Scripture Distribution Report 2016 7
@UBSBible UnitedBibleSocieties United Bible Societies, UK Hub, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon, SN5 7PJ, England Tel +44(0)1189 500 200 Email comms@biblesocieties.org The Bible for everyone The Fellowship is incorporated as United Bible Societies, a corporation registered in the state of Delaware, USA, in 1946. The affairs of the Fellowship are administered on its behalf by the United Bible Societies Association (UBSA) from its registered office at UBS UK Hub, Stonehill Green, Westlea, Swindon SN5 7PJ, England. UBSA is a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales no. 2264875. Registered charity no. 800058. 8 UBS Global Scripture Distribution Report 2016