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People group profile · PG047741

The Deaf Americans of the United States

The Deaf Americans of the United States, numbering about 3,375,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a community of individuals who are culturally Deaf and actively participate in Deaf culture, often using sign language as their primary means of communication.

They are an indigenous people in the Deaf people cluster of the Deaf Peoples. Their primary religion is Ethnoreligion, and they primarily speak American Sign Language.

Pray for the Deaf AmericansPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
United States
Population
3,375,000
Affinity group
Deaf Peoples
People cluster
Deaf
Primary language
American Sign Language (ase)
Primary religion
Ethnoreligion
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
Location
Scattered, especially in urban centers and near (present or former) residential deaf schools

Where they live

Gospel status

The Deaf Americans 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 Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Deaf Americans

  • 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

Ethnoreligion

Primary language

American Sign Language

12% speak American Sign Language

Gospel resources in American Sign Language

  • Bible available, published 2020
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

  • JESUS (American Sign Language)
  • JESUS (American Sign Language)
  • JESUS (American Sign Language)

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

Pray for the Deaf Americans

  1. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
  2. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  3. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  4. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.

Download a prayer guide

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