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People group profile · PG011024

The Merelava-Merig of Vanuatu

The Merelava-Merig of Vanuatu, numbering about 2,200 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic community of Vanuatu.

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

Pray for the Merelava-MerigPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Vanuatu
Population
2,200
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Vanuatu
Primary language
Merlav (mrm)
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 Merelava-Merig 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 Merelava-Merig

  • 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

Merlav · Austronesian family

100% speak Merlav

Gospel resources in Merlav

  • Bible available, published 1978
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings 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 Merelava-Merig

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

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