People group profile · PG011653
The Wolaitta of Ethiopia
The Wolaitta of Ethiopia, numbering about 3,080,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an ethnic group living between the Belati and Omo rivers in Ethiopia.
They are an indigenous people in the Omotic people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Wolaytta.

Fast facts
- Country
- Ethiopia
- Population
- 3,080,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Omotic
- Primary language
- Wolaytta (wal)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 30% or Greater but Less than 40%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Also known as
- Soddo
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
- Location
- Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ region: Wolaytta zone, Lake Abaya area
Where they live
Gospel status
The Wolaitta 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 Wolaitta
- 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
71% adherents
Primary language
Wolaytta · Ta-Ne-Omotic family
100% speak Wolaytta
Gospel resources in Wolaytta
- Bible available, published 2003
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 2004 SIM and Kale Heywet Church · video, audio, text
- 2004 SIM and Kale Heywet Church · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Wolaitta
- 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.
- 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.
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