People group profile · PG015486
The Arabs of South Africa
The Arabs of South Africa, numbering about 16,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a diverse ethnolinguistic group whose identity is shaped by a combination of language, culture, history, and geography. Arabs are native to the Arabian Peninsula, Levant, North Africa, and parts of the Horn of Africa.
They are a diaspora people in the Arab, Arabian people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Standard Arabic.

Fast facts
- Country
- South Africa
- Population
- 16,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Arab, Arabian
- Primary language
- Standard Arabic (arb)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Arabs are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Arabs
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
95% adherents
Primary language
Standard Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Standard Arabic
Gospel resources in Standard Arabic
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Arabic, Modern Standard)
- JESUS (Arabic, Modern Standard (Sharif))
- JESUS (Arabic, Modern Standard (Sharif))
- JESUS (Arabic, Modern Standard)
- JESUS (Arabic, Modern Standard (Egyptian))
- JESUS (Arabic, Modern Standard (Sharif))
- JESUS (Arabic, Modern Standard)
- JESUS (Arabic, Modern Standard (Egyptian))
- Magdalena (Arabic, Modern Standard)
- Magdalena (Arabic, Modern Standard (Egyptian))
- The Savior (Arabic, Modern Standard (Egyptian))
- The Savior (Arabic, Modern Standard)
Bibles
- Easy to Read Version · audio, text
- Good News Version · audio
- Sharif (Iraqi) Version · video, audio, text
- Sharif Version · video, audio, text
- Standard Arabic (Gulf) · audio
- Van Dyke Version - multi voice · video, audio, text
- Van Dyke Version - single voice · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Arabs
- 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.
Arab in other countries
The same people (ROP3 100425) is reported in 22 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arabs | Argentina | 1,580,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Arabs | Tanzania | 507,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Arabs | Brazil | 491,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Arabs | Pakistan | 248,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Australia | 161,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Austria | 101,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Denmark | 96,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Switzerland | 75,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | India | 62,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Kenya | 57,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Arabs | Greece | 34,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Arabs | Congo, Democratic Republic of the | 32,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Malaysia | 18,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Ethiopia | 13,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | New Zealand | 10,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Arabs | Malta | 10,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Burundi | 3,800 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Ghana | 3,300 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Jamaica | 2,100 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Comoros | 900 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Arabs | Maldives | 750 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Arabs | Barbados | 150 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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