People group profile · PG011724
The Turkmen of Iraq
The Turkmen of Iraq, numbering about 2,870,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a western Turkic people who played a significant role in the history of Central Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The ancestors of Iraqi Turkmen were Oghuz Turkic peoples whose arrival in Iraq (Mesopotamia) began as early as the 7th century.
They are an indigenous people in the Turkic people cluster of the Turkic Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak South Azerbaijani.
Fast facts
- Country
- Iraq
- Population
- 2,870,000
- Affinity group
- Central Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Turkic
- Primary language
- South Azerbaijani (azb)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Turkmen, Iraqi Turkmen, Türkmanja, Türkmen
- Region
- Western Asia, Asia
- Location
- Arbil, As Sulaymaniyah, Dahuk and Kirkuk governorates; Ninawa governorate: Mosul area; Sar Qal’ah area near Diyala border
Where they live
Gospel status
The Turkmen are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Turkmen
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
98% adherents
Primary language
South Azerbaijani · Turkic family
100% speak South Azerbaijani
Gospel resources in South Azerbaijani
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 2009 Elam Ministries · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Turkmen
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Turkmen, Iraqi in other countries
The same people (ROP3 118355) is reported in 2 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Middle-Eastern Turkoman | Syria | 127,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Middle-Eastern Turkoman | Jordan | 72,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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