People group profile · PG011649
The Tigrai/Tigrinya of Ethiopia
The Tigrai/Tigrinya of Ethiopia, numbering about 8,170,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a culturally rich and historically significant Semitic-speaking group in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea, known for their Tigrinya language, Orthodox Christian traditions, and influential role in the region's history and culture.
They are an indigenous people in the Ethio-Semitic people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Tigrinya.
Fast facts
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 8,170,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Ethio-Semitic
- Primary language
- Tigrinya (tir)
- Primary religion
- Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Tigrai/Tigrinya 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 Tigrai/Tigrinya
- 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
Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
95% adherents
Primary language
Tigrinya · Afro-Asiatic family
97% speak Tigrinya
Gospel resources in Tigrinya
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Tigrinya, Ethiopia)
- The Savior (Tigrinya, Eritrea)
Bibles
- 1991 Bible Society of Ethiopia · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Tigrai/Tigrinya
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
Tigrayan in other countries
The same people (ROP3 110050) is reported in 8 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tigrai/Tigrinya | Eritrea | 1,795,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrai | Sudan | 65,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Eritreans | Germany | 61,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Tigrayans | United States | 60,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Eritreans | Sweden | 57,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Eritreans | Italy | 25,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrinya | Canada | 11,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrai | Djibouti | 550 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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