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People group profile · PG047246

The Congolese of the United States

The Congolese of the United States, numbering about 38,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a diverse collection of peoples native to the Congo Basin, whose cultures reflect centuries of interaction among riverine, forest, savanna, and urban communities. They are characterized by extensive linguistic diversity and strong kinship networks.

They are a diaspora people in the Bantu, Central-Congo people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Neo-Pentecostalism, and they primarily speak Lingala.

Pray for the CongolesePrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
United States
Population
38,000
Affinity group
Sub-Saharan African Peoples
People cluster
Bantu, Central-Congo
Primary language
Lingala (lin)
Primary religion
Neo-Pentecostalism
Strategic Progress Index
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
2% or Greater but Less than 5%
GSEC
2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
Lostness priority
Marginally Reached People Group
Region
Northern America, Americas

Where they live

Gospel status

The Congolese are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 2% evangelical.

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

Next steps for the Congolese

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Neo-Pentecostalism · Christianity

Primary language

Lingala · Atlantic-Congo family

100% speak Lingala

Gospel resources in Lingala

  • 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 Congolese

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

Download a prayer guide

Lingala in other countries

The same people (ROP3 105785) is reported in 8 other countries.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
LingalaCongo, Democratic Republic of the4,300,000No Longer Unreached
LingalaAngola200,000Engaged yet Unreached
LingalaCongo189,000Engaged yet Unreached
LingalaSouth Sudan49,000Unengaged and Unreached
CongoleseUganda27,500No Longer Unreached
LingalaCentral African Republic19,000Engaged yet Unreached
CongoleseBelgium15,500No Longer Unreached
LingalaCanada3,500No Longer Unreached

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