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People group profile · PG050252

The Deaf Tongans of Tonga

The Deaf Tongans of Tonga, numbering about 1,100 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a community of individuals who are culturally Deaf and actively participate in Deaf culture, often using sign language as their primary means of communication.

They are an indigenous people in the Deaf people cluster of the Deaf Peoples. Their primary religion is Unknown, and they primarily speak Natural Sign Language.

Pray for the Deaf TongansPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Tonga
Population
1,100
Affinity group
Deaf Peoples
People cluster
Deaf
Primary language
Natural Sign Language (qns)
Primary religion
Unknown
Strategic Progress Index
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC
No Evangelicals, Churches or Resources
Lostness priority
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
Polynesia, Oceania

Where they live

Gospel status

The Deaf Tongans 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, there are no evangelical Christians or churches among this people group and there is no access to evangelical print, audio, visual or human resources.

  • Congregations exist No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Deaf Tongans

  • 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

Unknown

Primary language

Natural Sign Language · Sign Language family

Gospel resources in Natural Sign Language

  • Bible not available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings not available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Deaf Tongans

  1. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  2. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  3. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  4. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.

Download a prayer guide

Deaf Polynesian in other countries

The same people (ROP3 119665) is reported in 4 other countries.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
Deaf French PolynesiansFrench Polynesia2,800Unengaged and Unreached
Deaf WallisiansWallis and Futuna125Unengaged and Unreached
Deaf TuvaluansTuvalu100Unengaged and Unreached
Deaf NiueansNiue15Unengaged and Unreached

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