People group profile · PG015673
The Shona of Zimbabwe
The Shona of Zimbabwe, numbering about 8,735,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Bantu ethnic group native to Southern Africa, primarily living in Zimbabwe where they form the majority of the population.
They are an indigenous people in the Bantu, Shona people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Shona.

Fast facts
- Country
- Zimbabwe
- Population
- 8,735,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Shona
- Primary language
- Shona (sna)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10%
- GSEC
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Moderately Reached People Group
- Region
- Eastern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Shona are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Shona
- 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
80% adherents
Primary language
Shona · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Shona
Gospel resources in Shona
- Bible available, published 2007
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Union Shona · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Shona
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
Shona in other countries
The same people (ROP3 108959) is reported in 4 other countries.
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