People group profile · PG015040
The Somalis of Tanzania
The Somalis of Tanzania, numbering about 71,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a culturally rich and historically significant Cushitic ethnic group, known for their nomadic traditions, Sunni Muslim faith, and influential role in the Horn of Africa's socio-political landscape.
They are a diaspora people in the Somali people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Somali.
Fast facts
- Country
- Tanzania
- Population
- 71,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Somali
- Primary language
- Somali (som)
- 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 Somalis 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 Somalis
- 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
99% adherents
Primary language
Somali · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Somali
Gospel resources in Somali
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Somali)
Bibles
- SIM Version · audio, text
- Society for International Ministries, 2008 · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Somalis
- 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.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
Somali in other countries
The same people (ROP3 109392) is reported in 15 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Somalis | Somalia | 13,740,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Somalis | Ethiopia | 8,300,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Somalis | Kenya | 3,335,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Somalis | Yemen | 1,245,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Somalis | Djibouti | 625,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Somalis | United States | 163,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Somalis | United Kingdom | 143,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Somalis | United Arab Emirates | 111,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Somalis | Sweden | 81,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Somalis | Saudi Arabia | 77,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Somalis | Canada | 67,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Somalis | Eritrea | 53,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Somalis | Netherlands | 41,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Somalis | Italy | 13,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Somalis | Sudan | 2,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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