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People group profile · PG046497

The Amhara of the United States

The Amhara of the United States, numbering about 189,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are Amharic immigrants or Americans of Amhara ethnic origin, part of the Ethiopian diaspora. Indigenous to Ethiopia’s north‑central highlands, the Amhara speak Amharic and are traditionally associated with the Ethiopian Orthodox Christian faith.

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 Amharic.

Pray for the AmharaPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
United States
Population
189,000
Affinity group
Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
People cluster
Ethio-Semitic
Primary language
Amharic (amh)
Primary religion
Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity
Strategic Progress Index
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority
Expanding Unreached People Group
Region
Northern America, Americas

Where they live

Gospel status

The Amhara 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, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Amhara

  • 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

Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity · Christianity

80% adherents

Primary language

Amharic · Afro-Asiatic family

100% speak Amharic

Gospel resources in Amharic

  • 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 Amhara

  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

Amhara in other countries

The same people (ROP3 100293) is reported in 5 other countries.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
AmharaEthiopia36,150,000Engaged yet Unreached
AmharaGermany23,000Unengaged and Unreached
AmharaCanada14,000No Longer Unreached
AmharaEgypt4,100Unengaged and Unreached
AmharaDjibouti550Engaged yet Unreached

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