Prototype rebuild by the IMB Innovation Team. The official site is peoplegroups.org.

People group profile · PG010058

The Keuru of Papua New Guinea

The Keuru of Papua New Guinea, numbering about 16,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Indigenous people of Papua New Guinea's Gulf Province who speak Keoru-Ahia, an Eleman language. They inhabit coastal and riverine communities and maintain cultural traditions centered on sago cultivation, fishing, and canoe-based travel.

They are an indigenous people in the New Guinea people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Keoru-Ahia.

Pray for the KeuruPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Keuru people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Keuru

Fast facts

Country
Papua New Guinea
Population
16,500
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
New Guinea
Primary language
Keoru-Ahia (xeu)
Primary religion
Protestantism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
20% or Greater but Less than 30%
GSEC ?
10% or Greater Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Significantly Reached People Group
Region
Melanesia, Oceania

Where they live

Gospel status

The Keuru are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Keuru

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Protestantism · Christianity

35% adherents

Primary language

Keoru-Ahia · Eleman family

100% speak Keoru-Ahia

Gospel resources in Keoru-Ahia

  • Bible not available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Keuru

  1. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  2. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  3. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  4. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.

Download a prayer guide

Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.