People group profile · PG022524
The Ogan of Indonesia
The Ogan of Indonesia, numbering about 169,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a South Sumatran Malay people of the Ogan River basin whose identity is rooted in river-centered communities, a distinct Ogan language tradition, and longstanding cultural ties with neighboring Musi and other inland Malay peoples.
They are an indigenous people in the Ogan of Sumatra people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Central Malay.

Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 169,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Ogan of Sumatra
- Primary language
- Central Malay (pse)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Bengkulu province: central Bukit Barisan highlands west to Indian Ocean along Bengkulu coast; Lampung province; South Sumatra province: Lematang and Ogan river valleys
Where they live
Gospel status
The Ogan are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Ogan
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
99% adherents
Primary language
Central Malay · Austronesian family
80% speak Central Malay
Gospel resources in Central Malay
- Bible available, published 1995
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 1995 Lembaga Alkitab Indonesia · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Ogan
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.