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People group profile · PG047826

The Canary Islanders of Spain

The Canary Islanders of Spain, numbering about 1,555,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a people of mixed European and North African ancestry whose identity is more closely tied to their European, particularly Spanish, heritage than to their ancient North African Berber roots.

They are an indigenous people in the Spanish people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Catholicism, and they primarily speak Spanish.

Pray for the Canary IslandersPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Spain
Population
1,555,000
Affinity group
European Peoples
People cluster
Spanish
Primary language
Spanish (spa)
Primary religion
Folk Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index
Engaged yet Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC
Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
Lostness priority
Expanding Unreached People Group
Also known as
Guanche
Region
Southern Europe, Europe
Location
Canary Islands

Where they live

Gospel status

The Canary Islanders 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 but there has been initial or concentrated church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years Concentrated Church Planting

Next steps for the Canary Islanders

  • 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

Folk Catholicism · Christianity

77% adherents

Primary language

Spanish · Indo-European family

100% speak Spanish

Gospel resources in Spanish

  • Bible available, published 2017
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs 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 Canary Islanders

  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

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