Unreached people group

In Christianity, an unreached people group refers to an ethnic group without an indigenous, self-propagating Christian church movement.[1] Any ethnic or ethnolinguistic nation without enough Christians to evangelize the rest of the nation is an "unreached people group". It is a missiological[2] term used by Evangelical Protestants.[3][4] The Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization defines a people group as

"the largest group within which the gospel can spread as a church planting movement without encountering barriers of understanding or acceptance."[5][6]

'Nation' is sometimes used interchangeably for "people group". The term is sometimes applied to ethnic groups in which less than 2% of the population is Evangelical Protestant Christian,[7][8] Including nations where other forms of Christianity are prevalent such as Western Catholicism, Eastern Christianity or Judaism.[9][10][11]

Unreached People in North America

In Canada

Source:[12]

In United States

Unreached People in the 10/40 Window

10/40 Window

Large amounts of most of the countries in what is known as the 10/40 window are known to be 'unreached people groups'.[20][21][22] This list of countries is from His Feet International Ministries.[23]

  • Albania: A predominantly Muslim nation with a growing Christian presence and a history of religious tolerance.
  • Algeria: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small but growing Christian presence, facing challenges of religious restrictions and cultural barriers.
  • Bahrain: An island nation with a diverse religious landscape, including a significant expatriate Christian community, but with limited religious freedom for non-Muslims.
  • Egypt: Home to a large Coptic Christian minority facing discrimination and persecution, with a growing evangelical movement amidst societal challenges.
  • Iran: A theocratic Islamic Republic with a persecuted Christian minority, primarily converts from Islam, facing significant risks and restrictions.
  • Iraq: A country recovering from conflict, with a dwindling Christian population facing displacement and security concerns, yet resilient in their faith.
  • Israel: A Jewish state with a complex religious and political landscape, home to a diverse Christian community and a significant site for biblical pilgrimage.
  • Jordan: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority, known for its religious tolerance and historical biblical sites.
  • Kuwait: A wealthy Gulf state with a large expatriate Christian community, but with limited religious freedom for non-Muslims and restrictions on evangelism.
  • Lebanon: A diverse country with a significant Christian population, facing political instability and economic challenges, yet a beacon of religious coexistence in the region.
  • Libya: A nation in transition after years of conflict, with a small Christian minority facing security concerns and limited religious freedom.
  • Morocco: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian community, facing restrictions on religious expression and conversion.
  • Oman: A Gulf state with a small Christian minority, primarily expatriates, with limited religious freedom but a growing openness to interfaith dialogue.
  • Qatar: A wealthy Gulf state with a large expatriate Christian community, but with limited religious freedom for non-Muslims and restrictions on evangelism.
  • Saudi Arabia: A conservative Islamic monarchy with strict religious laws and no official recognition of Christianity, making it a challenging environment for Christian witness.
  • Syria: A nation ravaged by war, with a dwindling Christian population facing displacement, persecution, and immense suffering.
  • Tunisia: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority, known for its relative openness and religious tolerance compared to other countries in the region.
  • Turkey: A predominantly Muslim nation with a rich Christian heritage, but with a declining Christian population facing societal pressures and discrimination.
  • United Arab Emirates: A federation of Gulf states with a large expatriate Christian community, but with limited religious freedom for non-Muslims and restrictions on evangelism.
  • West Bank / Gaza: A territory (in Israel) with a predominantly Muslim population and a small Christian minority, facing political conflict and humanitarian challenges.
  • Yemen: A war-torn nation with a small and vulnerable Christian minority facing persecution and extreme hardship.

West and Central Africa

  • Benin: A diverse nation with a mix of traditional religions, Christianity, and Islam, with a growing Christian population and a history of religious tolerance.
  • Burkina Faso: A predominantly Muslim nation with a significant Christian minority, facing challenges of poverty, instability, and extremist violence.
  • Chad: A diverse nation with a mix of Christianity, Islam, and traditional religions, facing challenges of poverty, conflict, and limited religious freedom.
  • Djibouti: A strategically located nation with a predominantly Muslim population and a small Christian minority, facing challenges of poverty and limited religious freedom.
  • Eritrea: A one-party state with strict religious controls, with a persecuted Christian minority facing imprisonment and torture for their faith.
  • Ethiopia: A diverse nation with a large Christian population, primarily Orthodox, facing challenges of ethnic conflict, poverty, and religious tensions.
  • Gambia: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority, known for its relative religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
  • Guinea: A predominantly Muslim nation with a significant Christian minority, facing challenges of poverty, political instability, and limited religious freedom.
  • Guinea-Bissau: A predominantly Muslim nation with a significant Christian minority, facing challenges of poverty, political instability, and limited religious freedom.
  • Mali: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority, facing challenges of poverty, conflict, and extremist violence.
  • Mauritania: A predominantly Muslim nation with strict Islamic laws and a history of slavery, making it a challenging environment for Christian witness.
  • Niger: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority, facing challenges of poverty, conflict, and limited religious freedom.
  • Senegal: A predominantly Muslim nation with a significant Christian minority, known for its religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
  • Sudan: A nation divided by conflict and religious tensions, with a persecuted Christian minority in the north and a growing Christian presence in the south.
  • Western Sahara: A disputed territory with a predominantly Muslim population and limited religious freedom.

South and Central Asia

  • Afghanistan: A predominantly Muslim nation with a tiny and persecuted Christian minority, facing extreme restrictions on religious freedom and conversion.
  • Azerbaijan: A predominantly Muslim nation nestled at the crossroads of Eastern Europe and Western Asia.
  • Bangladesh: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority, facing societal discrimination and occasional violence.
  • Bhutan: A Buddhist kingdom with a small Christian minority, facing restrictions on religious freedom and evangelism.
  • India: A diverse nation with a large Hindu majority and a significant Christian minority, facing challenges of religious tensions, caste discrimination, and poverty.
  • Kazakhstan: A predominantly Muslim nation with a significant Russian Orthodox minority and a growing evangelical Christian presence.
  • Kyrgyzstan: A predominantly Muslim nation with a significant Russian Orthodox minority and a growing evangelical Christian presence.
  • Maldives: A Muslim nation with no official recognition of Christianity and strict restrictions on religious freedom.
  • Nepal: A predominantly Hindu nation with a growing Christian minority, facing challenges of poverty, political instability, and occasional religious tensions.
  • Pakistan: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority facing discrimination, persecution, and blasphemy laws.
  • Tajikistan: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority facing restrictions on religious freedom and evangelism.
  • Turkmenistan: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority facing restrictions on religious freedom and evangelism.
  • Uzbekistan: A predominantly Muslim nation with a small Christian minority facing restrictions on religious freedom and evangelism.

East Asia and Southeast Asia

  • Brunei: A Muslim nation with strict Islamic laws and severe restrictions on religious freedom for non-Muslims.
  • Cambodia: A predominantly Buddhist nation with a small Christian minority, facing challenges of poverty, corruption, and limited religious freedom.
  • China: A officially atheist nation with a large and growing Christian population, facing varying degrees of restrictions and persecution depending on the region and denomination.
  • Indonesia: The world's most populous Muslim-majority nation with a significant Christian minority, facing challenges of religious tensions, extremism, and natural disasters.
  • Japan: A predominantly Shinto and Buddhist nation with a small Christian minority, facing challenges of secularism, cultural barriers, and reaching a resistant population.
  • Laos: A communist state with a predominantly Buddhist population and a small Christian minority, facing restrictions on religious freedom and evangelism.
  • Malaysia: A predominantly Muslim nation with a significant Christian minority, facing challenges of religious tensions and restrictions on evangelism to Muslims.
  • Mongolia: A predominantly Buddhist nation with a small but growing Christian minority, facing challenges of poverty and cultural barriers.
  • Myanmar (Burma): A predominantly Buddhist nation with a persecuted Christian minority, particularly among ethnic groups, facing conflict, displacement, and discrimination.
  • North Korea: A totalitarian state with severe restrictions on religious freedom, making it one of the most difficult places in the world for Christians to practice their faith.
  • Taiwan: A predominantly Buddhist and Taoist nation with a significant Christian minority, known for its religious freedom and openness to the gospel.
  • Thailand: A predominantly Buddhist nation with a small Christian minority, facing challenges of reaching a resistant population and cultural barriers.
  • Vietnam: A communist state with a large Buddhist population and a significant Christian minority, facing varying degrees of restrictions on religious freedom depending on the denomination and region.
  • Timor-Leste: A predominantly Catholic nation with a young and growing church, facing challenges of poverty and rebuilding after years of conflict.

Unreached People Groups outside of the 10/40 Window

  • Large amounts of people in South America are 'unreached':
    • Argentina: A predominately Catholic nation with a small, growing Christian minority.[24]
    • Bolivia: A predominately historic Catholic nation with steadily growing Christian minority. About 15% identifying to be Evangelical Christians.[25]
    • Brazil: A predominately Catholic country with rapidly growing Christian presence. About 27% identify with the Evangelical church.[26]
    • Chile: A historically Catholic nation with stable Christian minority. About 15% of Chileans claim to be born-again Christian, most identifying with the Pentecostal denomination..
    • Colombia: A predominately Catholic nation with significant and growing Christian influence.
    • Ecuador: A predominately Catholic nation with a growing Christian influence, especially in the indigenous communities.
    • Falkland Islands (UK): A predominately Anglican and Catholic nation with a significant and growing Christian presence.
    • French Guiana (FR): A predominately Catholic nation with around 5% identifying as Evangelical Christian.
    • Guyana: A predominately Evangelical Pentecostal nation, with a significant and growing Christian majority of 64% of the population.
    • Paraguay: A predominately Catholic nation with 6-9% identifying with the Evangelical church.
    • Peru: A predominately Catholic nation with only around 4% identifying as born-again Christians.
    • Suriname: A predominately Catholic nation with a steadily growing Christian influence.
    • Uruguay: A predominately atheist or Catholic nation with a growing Christian influence.
    • Venezuela: A predominately Catholic nation with 17-20% identifying with the Evangelical church.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Unreached People Groups". Lausanne Global Conversation. Lausanne Committee on Global Evangelization. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  2. ^ Morreau, A. S. "Missiology." Evangelical Dictionary of Theology. Ed. Walter A. Elwell. 2nd ed. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2001. 780-83. Print
  3. ^ "Unreached Peoples Initiatives". Christian Aid Mission: Unreached Peoples. Christian Aid Mission. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  4. ^ "Getting There: a journey to impact an unreached world". IMBresources. International Mission Board. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  5. ^ Parks, S. Kent, John Scott. "Missing Peoples: The Unserved "One-Fourth" World: Especially Buddhists, Hindus & Muslims". Lausanne Global Conversation. Committee on World Evangelization. Retrieved 6 July 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ "Ethnê06 . . . Launching A Global Prayer and Strategy Initiative Focused on the Least Reached Peoples". Lausanne Reports. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  7. ^ "Unengaged Unreached People Groups". Global Research, International Mission Board, SBC. International Mission Board, SBC. Retrieved 10 July 2011.
  8. ^ Morgan, Timothy. "Mr. Jabez Goes to Africa". Christianity Today. Christianity Today International. Retrieved 6 July 2011.
  9. ^ Standridge, Standridge (January 21, 2020). Why Roman Catholic Countries Should be Considered Unreached. the Cripplegate.
  10. ^ Atherstone, Andrew; Jones, David Ceri (2018). The Routledge Research Companion to the History of Evangelicalism. Routledge. ISBN 9781317041528.
  11. ^ "PHOTO ESSAY – IS EUROPE UNREACHED?". Pioneers.
  12. ^ "Unreached People Groups In Canada" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-09-19.
  13. ^ Census data shows B.C. is the most secular province in Canada | CBC News
  14. ^ Dash, Darryl (2023-01-25). "Pray for Québec". The Gospel Coalition | Canada. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  15. ^ https://www.yukon-news.com/life/the-secular-territory-697153
  16. ^ "Hugh Morrison – HeartCry Missionary Society". heartcrymissionary.com. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  17. ^ daughters!, We are His (2015-08-08). "{Ministry Week} Lighthouse, Cape Breton". {We are His Daughters}. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  18. ^ Tyson, Amy (2020-12-12). "Canada's Forgotten Unreached". Acts 29. Retrieved 2025-12-13.
  19. ^ "America's Most Unreached People Group | Moody Bible Institute". www.moody.edu. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  20. ^ "Unreached People Groups | Global Frontier Missions". www.globalfrontiermissions.org. Archived from the original on 2024-05-12. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  21. ^ "Country Ranking". missionsprayer.net. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  22. ^ "Unreached People Groups-100 Largest | Joshua Project". joshuaproject.net. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  23. ^ "List of Countries in the 10/40 Window". His Feet International. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  24. ^ Castillo, Sofía (2024-10-31). "Argentina Moves to Officially Celebrate Its Evangelicals". Christianity Today. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  25. ^ "Bolivia | SIM USA". www.simusa.org. 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2025-12-14.
  26. ^ Sainz, Victoria (2025-06-05). "The Evangelical–Populist Nexus and Democratic Risks in Brazil". Atlas Institute for International Affairs. Retrieved 2025-12-14.