People group profile · PG000986
The Balkan Romani of Ukraine
The Balkan Romani of Ukraine, numbering about 300,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are the Balkan branch of the Roma people, defined mainly by their shared dialects and regional history rather than a single unified ethnic identity.
They are a diaspora people in the Romani people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Balkan Romani.
Fast facts
- Country
- Ukraine
- Population
- 300,000
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Romani
- Primary language
- Balkan Romani (rmn)
- Primary religion
- Eastern Orthodox Christianity
- 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
- Eastern Europe, Europe
Where they live
Gospel status
The Balkan Romani 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 Balkan Romani
- 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
Eastern Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
70% adherents
Primary language
Balkan Romani · Indo-European family
100% speak Balkan Romani
Gospel resources in Balkan Romani
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Balkan Romani
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- 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.
Roma, Balkan in other countries
The same people (ROP3 108397) is reported in 11 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balkan Romani | Serbia | 273,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Bulgaria | 267,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | North Macedonia | 106,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Turkiye | 80,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Moldova | 47,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Iran | 35,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Afghanistan | 18,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Greece | 11,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | France | 10,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Slovenia | 10,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Italy | 2,500 | No Longer Unreached |
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