People group profile · PG019354
The Detribalized Papuans of Papua New Guinea
The Detribalized Papuans of Papua New Guinea, numbering about 1,720,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a people of Papua New Guinea.
They are an indigenous people in the New Guinea people cluster of the Pacific Islander Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Tok Pisin.

Fast facts
- Country
- Papua New Guinea
- Population
- 1,720,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- New Guinea
- Primary language
- Tok Pisin (tpi)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 10% or Greater but Less than 15%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Moderately Reached People Group
- Region
- Melanesia, Oceania
Where they live
Gospel status
The Detribalized Papuans are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Detribalized Papuans
- 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
40% adherents
Primary language
Tok Pisin · Indo-European family
100% speak Tok Pisin
Gospel resources in Tok Pisin
- Bible available, published 1999
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Tok Pisin)
Bibles
- 1989 Bible Society of Papua New Guinea · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Detribalized Papuans
- 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.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.