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People group profile · PG023119

The Galoli of Timor-Leste

The Galoli of Timor-Leste, numbering about 17,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a people native to East Timor, north coast between Mambae and Makasae, Laklo, Manatutu, Laleia, and We-Masin, Wetar Island.

They are an indigenous people in the Timor people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Galolen.

Pray for the GaloliPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Galoli people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Galoli

Fast facts

Country
Timor-Leste
Population
17,500
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Timor
Primary language
Galolen (gal)
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism
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

Where they live

Gospel status

The Galoli 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 Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Galoli

  • 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

Roman Catholicism · Christianity

92% adherents

Primary language

Galolen · Austronesian family

100% speak Galolen

Gospel resources in Galolen

  • 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 Galoli

  1. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  2. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  3. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  4. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.

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