People group profile · PG023957
The Hazaras of Afghanistan
The Hazaras of Afghanistan, numbering about 3,635,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnic group of Turko-Mongol origins that emerged in Central Asia during the 14th century.
They are an indigenous people in the Aimaq people cluster of the Persian-Median Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Islam, and they primarily speak Hazaragi.
Fast facts
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Population
- 3,635,000
- Affinity group
- Central Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Aimaq
- Primary language
- Hazaragi (haz)
- Primary religion
- Shia Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Central mountains between Kabul and Herat (Hazarajat); Kabul, between Maimana and Sari-Pul; north from immediately south of Ikoh I Baba mountain range almost to Mazar e Sharif
Where they live
Gospel status
The Hazaras 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 but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting
Next steps for the Hazaras
- 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
Shia Islam · Islam
95% adherents
Primary language
Hazaragi · Indo-European family
90% speak Hazaragi
Gospel resources in Hazaragi
- Bible available, published 2015
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Hazaragi)
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Hazaras
- 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.
- 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.
Hazara in other countries
The same people (ROP3 103743) is reported in 3 other countries.
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