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People group profile · PG022826

The Laiyolo of Indonesia

The Laiyolo of Indonesia, numbering about 1,700 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic community of Indonesia.

They are an indigenous people in the Tukangbesi of Sulawesi people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Laiyolo.

Pray for the LaiyoloPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Indonesia
Population
1,700
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Tukangbesi of Sulawesi
Primary language
Laiyolo (lji)
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 ?
Expanding Unreached People Group
Region
South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Location
South Sulawesi province: Kepulauan Selayar regency, Barang-Barang, Laiyolo, Lowa, and other villages on Selayar island south tip

Where they live

Gospel status

The Laiyolo 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 Laiyolo

  • 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

98% adherents

Primary language

Laiyolo · Austronesian family

76% speak Laiyolo

Gospel resources in Laiyolo

  • 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 Laiyolo

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

Download a prayer guide

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