Scripture Landscape in the Americas (1,076 languages monitored) 2025-Julho

In my role overseeing Faith Comes By Hearing (FCBH) activities in Brazil, I *closely track languages and projects* inside the country. Yet it quickly became clear that Brazilian data cannot be separated from broader continental trends. Therefore, I expanded the scope to minimally monitor the *entire Americas*. Below are my key observations. Let me know what sparks your interest!

Over the past four decades Bible Translation Movement have followed the arrival of Scripture in *three media*: print, audio, and video (LUMO):

Print remains the historical front-runner: *602 languages* now have at least one printed portion. Growth peaked in 2011-2020 (242 new publications) but has slowed in the current decade.

Audio has surged after a quiet start (only 13 languages before 2000). A mix of traditional recordings and newer Oral Bible Translation (OBT) efforts has pushed the total to 428 languages. Mid-way through 2021-2030, *audio already outpaces* print for new releases (69 vs 59).

Video (LUMO) is the *newest format*, debuting in 2011-2020 and already reaching 322 languages—more than 60% of that growth (207 languages) has come since 2021.

Trends to watch:

Digital first — Audio and video are expanding faster than print, mirroring mobile access and audience preference for multimedia content.

Continued acceleration — Halfway through 2021-2030, audio leads print in new publications, while video is on a strong upward curve and could double by 2030.

Complementarity — Many projects now combine formats (e.g., audio + video), broadening reach for communities with limited literacy or oral learning preferences.

These insights guide translation priorities, resource allocation, and partnerships so that every language community in the Americas (or Brazil) receives Scripture in the medium most meaningful to them.

*Data-currency note*: My metrics are continually changed. I try to keep it updated. Right now, the audio and video figures are the most complete; the print dataset still needs additional cleanup. All three media sets will be fully refreshed by year-end. Print will probably remain the largest category, but we’ll know the exact standings once the update is finished.

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By Rodrigo Tinoco

tinoco@fcbhmail.org

FCBH Brazil