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People group profile · PG022678

The Latu of Indonesia

The Latu of Indonesia, numbering about 3,900 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an Indigenous Maluku people of western Seram Island whose identity is rooted in the Latu language, close-knit village communities, and longstanding cultural traditions shaped by life in the central Moluccan archipelago.

They are an indigenous people in the Maluku-Central people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Latu.

Pray for the LatuPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Indonesia
Population
3,900
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Maluku-Central
Primary language
Latu (ltu)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index ?
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC ?
No Evangelicals, Churches or Resources
Lostness priority ?
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Location
Maluku province: Seram Bagian Barat regency, Latu village; west Seram island, southwest Elpaputih bay, Point Latu

Where they live

Gospel status

The Latu 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 Latu

  • 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

Sunni Islam · Islam

95% adherents

Primary language

Latu · Austronesian family

75% speak Latu

Gospel resources in Latu

  • 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 Latu

  1. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  2. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  3. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  4. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.

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