CHINA (UGNEWSLINE) – China ranks seventh worldwide for Bible shortages, with an estimated 5 million to 10 million Christians wanting a Bible but unable to obtain one, according to a new international report highlighting restrictions on access to Scripture.
The 2026 Bible Access List, released in October by the Bible Access Initiative, assessed 106 countries and found that more than 125 million Christians worldwide want a Bible but do not have one. More than 500 million Christians face restrictions on accessing Scripture.
ChinaAid founder and president Bob Fu has warned that government efforts to prevent children from receiving Christian instruction have intensified.
He said authorities have moved towards “explicitly banning children from access to any Bible, even Bible stories.”
The distribution of Bibles has also resulted in criminal prosecutions. In Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, Wang Honglan and eight other Christians were arrested in April 2021 over the discounted sale of Bibles. They were convicted of “illegal business operations” on April 10, 2025.
State control over Bible printing and distribution
China continues to experience Bible shortages despite being a major producer of the religious text.
The Amity Printing Press in Nanjing has produced hundreds of millions of Bibles, although a substantial majority of its historical production has been exported to other countries.
Within China, government-approved Bibles are distributed mainly through state-registered churches affiliated with the Three-Self Patriotic Movement.
Printing and distribution remain tightly regulated, limiting access through independent churches, ordinary bookstores and online retailers.
The Hohhot case involved legally published Bibles sold below market prices to low-income Christians to encourage them to read Scripture.
Prosecutors described the network as an “organised criminal group,” citing transactions exceeding 40 million yuan and identifying Wang as the principal offender.
However, defence lawyer Fang Xiangui disputed the prosecution’s account, arguing that the activities were charitable efforts to spread the Christian faith and were not driven by profit.
Government pressure has also forced Christian businesses to close. In October 2025, Beijing Morning Light Bookstore, described as mainland China’s largest privately run Christian bookstore, announced its closure after years of government scrutiny.
The bookstore had faced repeated inspections dating back to 2012 and narrowly avoided closure several times.
Its deputy general manager, Li Wenxi, was arrested by police in Shanxi Province and sentenced to two years in prison on May 9, 2013, for “illegal business operations.”
Unregistered house churches in China also face police raids, confiscation of religious materials and other penalties that hinder the distribution of Scripture.
Authorities have frequently used charges of “illegal business operations” against people involved in distributing religious materials, including Bibles.
Digital access also restricted
Access to digital Bibles presents additional challenges for Christians in China.
The 2026 report notes that foreign Christian websites are blocked, Bible applications have been removed from app stores, and expanded online identification requirements have made religious activities increasingly traceable.
Researchers caution that the availability of digital Bibles does not necessarily guarantee safe access to Scripture.
Across 48 countries, an estimated 277 million Christians face online environments in which accessing the Bible is restricted or potentially dangerous.
Restrictions extend to children
Government restrictions also affect the next generation of Chinese Christians.
Authorities in several provinces have prohibited minors from attending church services or receiving religious education, while national regulations restrict religious instruction and communication with children through online platforms.
ChinaAid’s 2025 annual report documented orders barring children from churches in Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province. In Henan Province, a Catholic church was also ordered to suspend worship activities after a minor participated in a service.
Although China has no nationwide law explicitly prohibiting minors from attending church, ChinaAid’s findings indicate that local administrative directives have been used to enforce such restrictions.
Pressure has also extended into schools. In September, ChinaAid reported that police in Hunan Province questioned children from Christian families.
Some students were reportedly pressured to sign documents accusing house churches of religious “brainwashing.”
The Bible Access Initiative’s findings highlight the difference between producing Bibles and ensuring that people can obtain and use them.
For millions of Christians in China, government controls on distribution, religious gatherings and digital communications continue to limit access to Scripture.
Founded in 2002, ChinaAid is an international Christian human rights organisation that promotes religious freedom and the rule of law in China through advocacy, legal support and international awareness campaigns.
Source of information : Human Rights Without Frontiers Int’l | www.hrwf.eu | Phone: +32 2 345 61 45
