People group profile · PG000716
The Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Croats of Bosnia and Herzegovina, numbering about 505,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a South Slavic people native to Croatia and neighboring regions of the western Balkans, whose culture has been shaped by the interaction of Central European, Mediterranean, and Balkan traditions, as well as a long association with Roman Catholicism.
They are an indigenous people in the Slav, Southern people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Croatian.
Fast facts
- Country
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Population
- 505,000
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Slav, Southern
- Primary language
- Croatian (hrv)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Europe, Europe
Where they live
Gospel status
The Croats are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Croats
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
70% adherents
Primary language
100% speak Croatian
Gospel resources in Croatian
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Knjiga O Kristu · video
- Vuk Karadzic version · audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Croats
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Croat in other countries
The same people (ROP3 102315) is reported in 9 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croats | Croatia | 3,625,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Croats | Germany | 416,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Croats | United States | 190,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Croats | Slovenia | 77,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Croats | Austria | 71,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Croats | Australia | 57,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Croats | Sweden | 9,300 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Croats | Montenegro | 6,900 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Croats | North Macedonia | 2,400 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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