People group profile · PG011058
The Sakau of Vanuatu
The Sakau of Vanuatu, numbering about 7,200 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Oceanic people of Sakao Island and the Port-Olry area on northeastern Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu, whose language diverged phonologically from its closest island neighbors to the point of mutual unintelligibility despite shared ancestry.
They are an indigenous people in the Vanuatu people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Sakao.
Fast facts
- Country
- Vanuatu
- Population
- 7,200
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Vanuatu
- Primary language
- Sakao (sku)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- 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 Sakau 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 Sakau
- 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
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
55% adherents
Primary language
Sakao · Austronesian family
100% speak Sakao
Gospel resources in Sakao
- Bible available, published 1959
- 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 Sakau
- 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.
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