People group profile · PG000956
The Tuvans of the Russian Federation
The Tuvans of the Russian Federation, numbering about 268,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Turkic-speaking people indigenous to southern Siberia whose culture reflects pastoral nomadic traditions, Tibetan Buddhism, and indigenous shamanic beliefs. Most live in the Republic of Tuva in the Russian Federation.
They are an indigenous people in the Ural-Siberian people cluster of the Turkic Peoples. Their primary religion is Tibetan Buddhism, and they primarily speak Tuvinian.
Fast facts
- Country
- Russian Federation
- Population
- 268,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Ural-Siberian
- Primary language
- Tuvinian (tyv)
- Primary religion
- Tibetan Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Tuvans, Tyvans
- Region
- Eastern Europe, Europe
Where they live
Gospel status
The Tuvans 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 Tuvans
- 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
Tibetan Buddhism · Buddhism
80% adherents
Primary language
Tuvinian · Turkic family
95% speak Tuvinian
Gospel resources in Tuvinian
- Bible available, published 2017
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 2011 Institute for Bible Translation, Moscow · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Tuvans
- 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.
Tuvan in other countries
The same people (ROP3 110333) is reported in 1 other country.
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