Prototype rebuild by the IMB Innovation Team. The official site is peoplegroups.org.

People group profile · PG041721

The Kami (Nepali) of India

The Kami (Nepali) of India, numbering about 147,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are traditionally the blacksmiths and metalworkers of Nepal's hill villages, a Dalit community long classified as an impure but touchable caste under the 1854 Muluki Ain code, historically famed for forging khukri knives.

They are an indigenous people in the Nepali-Pahari people cluster of the South Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Hinduism, and they primarily speak Nepali (individual language).

Pray for the Kami (Nepali)Print profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Kami (Nepali) people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Kami (Nepali)

Fast facts

Country
India
Population
147,000
Affinity group
South Asian Peoples
People cluster
Nepali-Pahari
Primary language
Nepali (individual language) (npi)
Primary religion
Folk Hinduism
Strategic Progress Index ?
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Expanding Unreached People Group
Region
Southern Asia, Asia

Where they live

Gospel status

The Kami (Nepali) 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 Kami (Nepali)

  • 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

Folk Hinduism · Hinduism

95% adherents

Primary language

Nepali (individual language) · Indo-European family

100% speak Nepali (individual language)

Gospel resources in Nepali (individual language)

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Kami (Nepali)

  1. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  2. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  3. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  4. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.

Download a prayer guide

Kami (Nepali) in other countries

The same people is also reported in 1 other country.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
KamiNepal1,560,000Engaged yet Unreached

Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.