People group profile · PG024197
The Persians of Iran
The Persians of Iran, numbering about 29,490,000 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 an indigenous 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
- Iran
- Population
- 29,490,000
- 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, Dispersed CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Widespread
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 but there has been dispersed church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years Dispersed Church Planting
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
95% adherents
Primary language
Iranian Persian · Indo-European family
100% speak Iranian Persian
Gospel resources in Iranian Persian
- Bible available, published 2020
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs 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 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.
Persian in other countries
The same people (ROP3 107987) is reported in 29 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 | Afghanistan | 117,000 | Engaged yet 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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