People group profile · PG039299
The Bulgarians of Bulgaria
The Bulgarians of Bulgaria, numbering about 5,610,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a South Slavic people of the Balkan Peninsula whose identity emerged through the historical blending of Slavic-speaking populations with earlier Balkan inhabitants, particularly the Thracians, and the medieval Bulgars from whom they derive their name.
They are an indigenous people in the Slav, Southern people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Eastern Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Bulgarian.
Fast facts
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Population
- 5,610,000
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Slav, Southern
- Primary language
- Bulgarian (bul)
- Primary religion
- Eastern Orthodox Christianity
- 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
- Eastern Europe, Europe
- Location
- Widespread
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bulgarians 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 Bulgarians
- 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
Eastern Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
58% adherents
Primary language
Bulgarian · Indo-European family
100% speak Bulgarian
Gospel resources in Bulgarian
- Bible available, published 2017
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 1924 Protestant Bible · audio
- 1940 Bulgarian Bible · text
- Bulgarian Orthodox Bible · audio, text
- Contemporary Bulgarian · audio, text
- Protestant Revised Bible / Библия, ревизирано издание · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Bulgarians
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- 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.
Bulgarian in other countries
The same people (ROP3 101722) is reported in 9 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulgarians | Germany | 418,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Bulgarians | Spain | 123,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Bulgarians | United States | 77,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Bulgarians | Belgium | 49,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Bulgarians | Canada | 33,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Bulgarians | Kazakhstan | 9,200 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Bulgarians | Turkiye | 8,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Bulgarians | Uzbekistan | 1,800 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Bulgarians | Tajikistan | 950 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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