People group profile · PG042854
The Tigrai of Sudan
The Tigrai of Sudan, numbering about 65,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a culturally rich and historically significant Semitic-speaking group in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea, known for their Tigrinya language, Orthodox Christian traditions, and influential role in the region's history and culture.
They are a diaspora people in the Ethio-Semitic people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Tigrinya.
Fast facts
- Country
- Sudan
- Population
- 65,500
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Ethio-Semitic
- Primary language
- Tigrinya (tir)
- Primary religion
- Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity
- 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
- Northern Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Tigrai 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 Tigrai
- 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
Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
97% adherents
Primary language
Tigrinya · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Tigrinya
Gospel resources in Tigrinya
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Tigrinya, Ethiopia)
- The Savior (Tigrinya, Eritrea)
Bibles
- 1991 Bible Society of Ethiopia · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Tigrai
- 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.
- 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.
Tigrayan in other countries
The same people (ROP3 110050) is reported in 8 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tigrai/Tigrinya | Ethiopia | 8,170,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrai/Tigrinya | Eritrea | 1,795,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Eritreans | Germany | 61,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Tigrayans | United States | 60,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Eritreans | Sweden | 57,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Eritreans | Italy | 25,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrinya | Canada | 11,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrai | Djibouti | 550 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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