People group profile · PG015558
The Sotho of Eswatini
The Sotho of Eswatini, numbering about 6,100 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Sotho-Tswana ethnic group indigenous to Lesotho and South Africa.
They are a diaspora people in the Bantu, Sotho-Tswana people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Southern Sotho.
Fast facts
- Country
- Eswatini
- Population
- 6,100
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Sotho-Tswana
- Primary language
- Southern Sotho (sot)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- 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
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Region
- Southern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Sotho 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Sotho
- 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
90% adherents
Primary language
Southern Sotho · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Southern Sotho
Gospel resources in Southern Sotho
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Sotho
- 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.
Sotho in other countries
The same people (ROP3 109431) is reported in 3 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Sotho | South Africa | 5,435,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Southern Sotho | Lesotho | 1,945,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Basotho | United States | 300 | No Longer Unreached |
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.