People group profile · PG014886
The Swahili of Rwanda
The Swahili of Rwanda, numbering about 20,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a diaspora community of Swahili (Waungwana) in Rwanda.
They are a diaspora people in the Bantu, Swahili people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Swahili (individual language).

Fast facts
- Country
- Rwanda
- Population
- 20,500
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Swahili
- Primary language
- Swahili (individual language) (swh)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Swahili 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 Swahili
- 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
100% adherents
Primary language
Swahili (individual language) · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Swahili (individual language)
Gospel resources in Swahili (individual language)
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Swahili, Tanzania)
- The Savior (Swahili, Kenya)
Bibles
- Habari Njema (Interconfessional) · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Swahili
- 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.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
Swahili in other countries
The same people (ROP3 109644) is reported in 16 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coastal Swahili | Tanzania | 1,095,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Arabized Africans | Saudi Arabia | 554,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Swahili | United States | 82,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Central Swahili | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 64,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Coastal Swahili | Kenya | 60,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Bantu Swahili | Somalia | 55,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Swahili | Zambia | 39,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Swahili | Sudan | 34,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Black Africans | United Arab Emirates | 30,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Swahili | Mozambique | 18,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Swahili | Burundi | 14,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Swahili | Mayotte | 10,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Swahili | Canada | 9,300 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Swahili | Uganda | 5,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Swahili | Comoros | 1,200 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Swahili | Seychelles | 600 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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