Prototype rebuild by the IMB Innovation Team. The official site is peoplegroups.org.

People group profile · PG018391

The Satawalese of the Federated States of Micronesia

The Satawalese of the Federated States of Micronesia, numbering about 550 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a seafaring people of Micronesia's remote Satawal Island, culturally and linguistically closer to Chuuk than to the rest of Yap State, renowned for the Weriyeng school of traditional non-instrument ocean navigation.

They are an indigenous people in the Micronesian people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Satawalese.

Pray for the SatawalesePrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Satawalese people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Satawalese

Fast facts

Country
Micronesia
Population
550
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Micronesian
Primary language
Satawalese (stw)
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC
No Evangelicals, Churches or Resources
Lostness priority
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Micronesia, Oceania
Location
Yap: Satawal island

Where they live

Gospel status

The Satawalese 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, there are no evangelical Christians or churches among this people group and there is no access to evangelical print, audio, visual or human resources.

  • Congregations exist No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Satawalese

  • 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

Roman Catholicism · Christianity

94% adherents

Primary language

Satawalese · Austronesian family

100% speak Satawalese

Gospel resources in Satawalese

  • Bible not available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Satawalese

  1. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  2. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  3. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  4. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.

Download a prayer guide

Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.