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.

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
- JESUS (Amharic)
- JESUS (Amharic)
- Magdalena (Amharic)
- The Savior (Amharic)
Bibles
- 1962 Bible Society of Ethiopia · text
- 1988 Common Version · audio
- New Amharic Standard Version (NASV) · video
- Orthodox-Septuagint Deuterocanonical Version · text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Amhara
- 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.
- 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.
Amhara in other countries
The same people (ROP3 100293) is reported in 5 other countries.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.