People group profile · PG024002
The Persians of Afghanistan
The Persians of Afghanistan, numbering about 117,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a complex Iranian community shaped by a rich history, multifaceted blend of ancient traditions, cultural heritage, modern influences, Islamic values, and a strong sense of national pride and resilience.
They are a diaspora people in the Persian people cluster of the Persian-Median Peoples. Their primary religion is Shia Islam, and they primarily speak Iranian Persian.
Fast facts
- Country
- Afghanistan
- Population
- 117,000
- Affinity group
- Central Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Persian
- Primary language
- Iranian Persian (pes)
- Primary religion
- Shia Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Persians 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Persians
- 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
94% adherents
Primary language
Iranian Persian · Indo-European family
100% speak Iranian Persian
Gospel resources in Iranian Persian
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Farsi, Western)
- Magdalena (Farsi, Western)
- The Savior (Farsi, Western)
Bibles
- New Millenium Version 2009 · audio
- New Millenium Version 2014 · video, text
- Today's Persian Version · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Persians
- 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.
Persian in other countries
The same people (ROP3 107987) is reported in 29 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Persians | Iran | 29,490,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | United Arab Emirates | 555,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Iraq | 511,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | United States | 466,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Qatar | 276,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Persians | Bahrain | 225,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Canada | 202,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Persians | Germany | 175,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Persians | Turkiye | 130,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Persians | United Kingdom | 86,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Persians | Australia | 84,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | France | 65,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Kuwait | 50,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Persians | Netherlands | 36,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Uzbekistan | 34,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Persians | Malaysia | 21,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Oman | 16,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Persians | Denmark | 15,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Austria | 15,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Pakistan | 13,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Persians | Belgium | 12,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Italy | 11,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | Syria | 10,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Persians | Indonesia | 8,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Persians | Armenia | 7,800 | No Longer Unreached |
| Persians | New Zealand | 7,400 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Persians | South Korea | 3,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Persians | Greece | 2,400 | No Longer Unreached |
| Persians | Azerbaijan | 1,400 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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