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

People group profile · PG010742

The Bugoto of the Solomon Islands

The Bugoto of the Solomon Islands, numbering about 7,900 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a people of southern Santa Isabel Island named by the Mendana expedition in 1568, targeted by western Isabel's Kia leaders allied with Roviana Lagoon groups, later hit by 19th-century blackbirding before coming under German then British protectorate rule.

They are an indigenous people in the Solomons people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Bughotu.

Pray for the BugotoPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Bugoto people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2025). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Bugoto

Fast facts

Country
Solomon Islands
Population
7,900
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Solomons
Primary language
Bughotu (bgt)
Primary religion
Protestantism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
5% or Greater but Less than 10%
GSEC ?
5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Moderately Reached People Group
Region
Melanesia, Oceania

Where they live

Gospel status

The Bugoto are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.

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

Next steps for the Bugoto

  • 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

Primary language

Bughotu · Austronesian family

100% speak Bughotu

Gospel resources in Bughotu

  • Bible available, published 2010
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Bibles

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

Pray for the Bugoto

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

Download a prayer guide

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