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People group profile · PG047194

The Eritreans of the United States

The Eritreans of the United States, numbering about 43,500 people, are Engaged yet 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 Arab, Arabian people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Tigre.

Pray for the EritreansPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
United States
Population
43,500
Affinity group
Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
People cluster
Arab, Arabian
Primary language
Tigre (tig)
Primary religion
Sunni Islam
Strategic Progress Index ?
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Northern America, Americas
Location
diaspora communities are typically concentrated in urban areas in search of economic and social opportunities

Where they live

Gospel status

The Eritreans 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 No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Eritreans

  • 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

Sunni Islam · Islam

Primary language

Tigre · Afro-Asiatic family

100% speak Tigre

Gospel resources in Tigre

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

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

Pray for the Eritreans

  1. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  2. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  3. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  4. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.

Download a prayer guide

Eritreans in other countries

The same people is also reported in 3 other countries.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
EritreansCanada27,000Engaged yet Unreached
EritreansUganda16,000No Longer Unreached
EritreansKenya2,100No Longer Unreached

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