People group profile · PG049340
The Syrian Arabs of Turkiye
The Syrian Arabs of Turkiye, numbering about 3,900,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Levantine Arab diaspora from Syria, formed chiefly by forced migration into neighboring Türkiye after the Syrian conflict began in 2011 and largely governed under temporary protection.
They are a diaspora people in the Arab, Levant people cluster of the Arab Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Levantine Arabic.

Fast facts
- Country
- Turkiye
- Population
- 3,900,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Arab, Levant
- Primary language
- Levantine Arabic (apc)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Western Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Syrian Arabs 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, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Syrian Arabs
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
84% adherents
Primary language
Levantine Arabic · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Levantine Arabic
Gospel resources in Levantine Arabic
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- Sabeel Media · video, audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Syrian Arabs
- 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.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Arab, Syrian in other countries
The same people (ROP3 109662) is reported in 18 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Syrian Sunni Arabs | Syria | 15,630,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Jordan | 1,315,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Saudi Arabia | 817,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Germany | 584,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Lebanon | 489,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | United Arab Emirates | 302,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Iraq | 292,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Qatar | 266,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Sweden | 211,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | United States | 196,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Kuwait | 161,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Sudan | 131,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Netherlands | 94,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Greece | 75,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Canada | 68,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | France | 18,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Guadeloupe | 900 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Syrian Arabs | Martinique | 550 | Unengaged and Unreached |
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.