People group profile · PG048851
The Northern Saami of Finland
The Northern Saami of Finland, numbering about 1,800 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an indigenous Sámi people of northern Finland whose homeland lies within Sápmi across the Nordic north, forming the largest Sámi ethnolinguistic community and maintaining Northern Sámi cultural traditions and language.
They are an indigenous people in the Finno-Ugric, Saami people cluster of the Eurasian Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism, and they primarily speak Northern Sami.
Fast facts
- Country
- Finland
- Population
- 1,800
- Affinity group
- European Peoples
- People cluster
- Finno-Ugric, Saami
- Primary language
- Northern Sami (sme)
- Primary religion
- Protestantism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10%
- GSEC
- 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Marginally Reached People Group
- Also known as
- Davvisámi
- Region
- Northern Europe, Europe
- Location
- Lapland region: Enontekiö, western Inari, Sodankylä, and Utsjoki municipalities
Where they live
Gospel status
The Northern Saami are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Northern Saami
- 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
Protestantism · Christianity
74% adherents
Primary language
Northern Sami · Uralic family
90% speak Northern Sami
Gospel resources in Northern Sami
- Bible available
- JESUS Film not 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 Northern Saami
- 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.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
Saami, Northern in other countries
The same people (ROP3 107458) is reported in 2 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Saami | Norway | 44,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Northern Saami | Sweden | 6,100 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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