Vision 2025—serving in partnership worldwide to see Bible translation begun by 2025 in every remaining language community that needs it “At the current rate, Bible translation will be in progress in every language group that needs it by 2038. Greater acceleration is needed to reach the goal of Vision 2025, but we rejoice in the progress being made. In the six years since adopting Vision 2025, more than 110 years have been cut from the task! This calculation is based on the 1999 estimate that, following traditional strategies, it would take until 2150 to begin work in every language group. God is providing the open doors, people, partnerships, technology and new strategies to make the vision a reality.” John Watters, Executive Director |
Worldwide Bible Translation Statistics 1. World Population—6.5 billion |
- Languages spoken in the world—6,912 [Ethnologue, 15th Edition, 2005]
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- Languages needing Bible translation work to begin—2,529 (representing approximately 272 million people)
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- Languages with some or all of the Bible—2,377 [United Bible Societies (2004)]
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- Programs in progress in languages without adequate Scripture—1,640
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- New language work begun in Bibleless language communities since October 1, 1999 (the beginning of Vision 2025)—473 (386 with Wycliffe involvement)
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Wycliffe Participation in Bible Translation - Personnel—6,643 Wycliffe members worldwide including 708 awaiting/preparing for new assignment. Wycliffe personnel work in partnership with approximately 12,000 expatriate and national workers from more than 60 countries on behalf of Bible translation.
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- Language Work in Progress—Wycliffe personnel are working in 1,294 languages, representing 93 countries (including work among people who live outside their traditional homeland).
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- Translation—In its 70-year history, Wycliffe personnel have been involved in the translation of New Testaments or complete Bibles in 623 languages, representing 77 million people. (Wycliffe personnel has been involved in 70% of projects worldwide that are providing an initial translation for the people group.)
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- Production—In 2005, Wycliffe personnel were involved in the completion of—5 Bibles, 31 New Testaments, 32 JESUS videos, 7 Luke videos, and 3 Genesis videos.
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- Wycliffe Personnel Needs—2,978 There are ongoing needs for linguist/translators, literacy specialists, trainers, project managers, computer specialists, accountants, administrators and other support roles.
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- Organizations that are a part of Wycliffe International—110
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Wycliffe International seeks to provide the best, most accurate statistics from reliable sources. These statistics offer the most current estimates available. Ongoing improvements in information gathering may result in occasional discrepancies in the totals from year to year. |
