Unreached People Groups

The world's population of well over six billion people is divided into over 16,000 distinct people groups. Every country contains several groups -- most have hundreds. Even in countries that may be largely homogeneous, distinct people groups provide the basis for subcultures. Members of an ethnolinguistic people group share several characteristics. They have a common ancestry, and therefore have similar physical characteristics. Because of historically living in close geographic proximity, they have distinct customs and language.

The lines between people groups can become blurred when individuals marry and procreate with members of another group, and when members of one group live among another group. The United States is an example of a place where this blending of cultures can happen. However, even within the USA many distinct groups remain.

From a missionary standpoint, people groups are very significant, as they often play a big part in where a missionary will go. Missionary endeavors should be strategic -- if there is already a significant Christian presence in an area, it makes sense to go somewhere else. However, judging Christian presence simply by number or percentage of Christians in a country can be misleading. A country that has a high number of Christians may also have a high number of unreached people groups.

People will tend to share beliefs primarily among fellow members of their people group, and the gospel is no exception. Unreached people groups may have a distinct language that prevents or hampers evangelization by neighboring groups. The gospel will be spread most effectively if each people group is targeted. Sharing the gospel by country seems logical at first, but national borders are largely artificial, and many groups would remain unreached. The countries with the highest percentages of unreached people groups lie in the 10 40 window. Most countries have at least a few unreached people groups, but these nations often have up to 80% or higher unreached.