People group profile · PG022938
The Kanum of Indonesia
The Kanum of Indonesia, numbering about 750 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Marind subgroup of Merauke Regency near the PNG border, with their own Yam-family language closer to Yei than to Marind, organized into named clans including Mbanggu, Ndimar, and Sanggra across the swamp-and-savanna territory of Wasur National Park.
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 Ngkâlmpw Kanum.

Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 750
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- New Guinea
- Primary language
- Ngkâlmpw Kanum (kcd)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 50% or Greater but Less than 75%
- GSEC ?
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Papua province: Merauke regency, Onggaya, Tomer, and Yanggandur villages south along Papua New Guinea border
Where they live
Gospel status
The Kanum 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 Kanum
- 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
50% adherents
Primary language
Ngkâlmpw Kanum · Yam family
76% speak Ngkâlmpw Kanum
Gospel resources in Ngkâlmpw Kanum
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings 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 Kanum
- 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.
Kanum in other countries
The same people is also reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanum | Papua New Guinea | 550 | No Longer Unreached |
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