People group profile · PG048874
The Bunak of Timor-Leste
The Bunak of Timor-Leste, numbering about 73,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Papuan-language people of central Timor's mountains, linguistically isolated from the Austronesian-speaking Kemak, Mambai, Tetun, and Atoni communities that surround them on all sides.
They are an indigenous people in the Timor people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Bunak.

Fast facts
- Country
- Timor-Leste
- Population
- 73,500
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Timor
- Primary language
- Bunak (bfn)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- 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 ?
- Minimally Reached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bunak 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 Bunak
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
80% adherents
Primary language
Bunak · Timor-Alor-Pantar family
100% speak Bunak
Gospel resources in Bunak
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not 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 Bunak
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
Bunak in other countries
The same people is also reported in 1 other country.
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