People group profile · PG024141
The Balkan Romani of Iran
The Balkan Romani of Iran, numbering about 35,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are the Balkan branch of the Roma people, defined mainly by their shared dialects and regional history rather than a single unified ethnic identity.
They are a diaspora people in the Romani people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Balkan Romani.
Fast facts
- Country
- Iran
- Population
- 35,000
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Romani
- Primary language
- Balkan Romani (rmn)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- 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 Balkan Romani are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 Balkan Romani
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Sunni Islam · Islam
80% adherents
Primary language
Balkan Romani · Indo-European family
100% speak Balkan Romani
Gospel resources in Balkan Romani
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Balkan Romani
- 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.
Roma, Balkan in other countries
The same people (ROP3 108397) is reported in 11 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balkan Romani | Ukraine | 300,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Serbia | 273,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Bulgaria | 267,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | North Macedonia | 106,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Turkiye | 80,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Moldova | 47,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Afghanistan | 18,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Greece | 11,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | France | 10,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Slovenia | 10,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Balkan Romani | Italy | 2,500 | No Longer Unreached |
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.