People group profile · PG023128
The Tetum of Timor-Leste
The Tetum of Timor-Leste, numbering about 568,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Austronesian people indigenous to Timor whose identity was shaped by the historic Tetun kingdoms of central Timor and whose language became the principal lingua franca of much of Timor-Leste.
They are an indigenous people in the Timor people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Tetun Dili.
Fast facts
- Country
- Timor-Leste
- Population
- 568,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Timor
- Primary language
- Tetun Dili (tdt)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Strategic Progress Index ?
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5%
- GSEC ?
- 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
- Lostness priority ?
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Tetum are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Tetum
- 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
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
97% adherents
Primary language
Tetun Dili · Austronesian family
100% speak Tetun Dili
Gospel resources in Tetun Dili
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film 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 Tetum
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- 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.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.