People group profile · PG050209
The Eritreans of Sweden
The Eritreans of Sweden, numbering about 57,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a culturally rich and historically significant Semitic-speaking group in northern Ethiopia and Eritrea, known for their Tigrinya language, Orthodox Christian traditions, and influential role in the region's history and culture.
They are a diaspora people in the Ethio-Semitic people cluster of the Horn of Africa Peoples. Their primary religion is Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity, and they primarily speak Tigrinya.

Fast facts
- Country
- Sweden
- Population
- 57,000
- Affinity group
- Northern African and Middle Eastern Peoples
- People cluster
- Ethio-Semitic
- Primary language
- Tigrinya (tir)
- Primary religion
- Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- Northern Europe, Europe
Where they live
Gospel status
The Eritreans are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Eritreans
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Tewahedo Orthodox Christianity · Christianity
60% adherents
Primary language
Tigrinya · Afro-Asiatic family
100% speak Tigrinya
Gospel resources in Tigrinya
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Tigrinya, Ethiopia)
- The Savior (Tigrinya, Eritrea)
Bibles
- 1991 Bible Society of Ethiopia · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Eritreans
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
- 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.
Tigrayan in other countries
The same people (ROP3 110050) is reported in 8 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tigrai/Tigrinya | Ethiopia | 8,170,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrai/Tigrinya | Eritrea | 1,795,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrai | Sudan | 65,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Eritreans | Germany | 61,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Tigrayans | United States | 60,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Eritreans | Italy | 25,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrinya | Canada | 11,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Tigrai | Djibouti | 550 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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