People group profile · PG022961
The Korowai of Indonesia
The Korowai of Indonesia, numbering about 4,400 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Papuan people of remote rainforest inland from the Arafura Sea in Indonesia, uncontacted until around 1975, world-renowned for treehouses built high in the trees to escape ground-dwelling evil spirits, organized into small egalitarian patrilineal clans.
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 Korowai.
Fast facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Population
- 4,400
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- New Guinea
- Primary language
- Korowai (khe)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 40% or Greater but Less than 50%
- GSEC ?
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Papua province: southeast inland area between upper Sirac and Digul rivers
Where they live
Gospel status
The Korowai 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 Korowai
- 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
Korowai · Nuclear Trans New Guinea family
100% speak Korowai
Gospel resources in Korowai
- Bible available, published 2019
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Korowai
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.