People group profile · PG050322
The Lingala of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Lingala of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, numbering about 4,300,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Congolese ethnolinguistic community associated with the Lingala language, which emerged from Congo River trade networks and the historical Bangala riverine peoples.
They are an indigenous people in the Bantu, Central-Congo people cluster of the Sub-Saharan African Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Lingala.
Fast facts
- Country
- Congo, Democratic Republic of the
- Population
- 4,300,000
- Affinity group
- Sub-Saharan African Peoples
- People cluster
- Bantu, Central-Congo
- Primary language
- Lingala (lin)
- Primary religion
- Roman Catholicism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 10% or Greater but Less than 15%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Moderately Reached People Group
- Region
- Middle Africa, Africa
Where they live
Gospel status
The Lingala are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.
- Congregations exist Yes
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Lingala
- 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
Roman Catholicism · Christianity
29% adherents
Primary language
Lingala · Atlantic-Congo family
100% speak Lingala
Gospel resources in Lingala
- Bible available, published 2021
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 1982 Boyokant Ya Sika · audio
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Lingala
- 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.
Lingala in other countries
The same people (ROP3 105785) is reported in 8 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lingala | Angola | 200,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Lingala | Congo | 189,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Lingala | South Sudan | 49,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Congolese | United States | 38,000 | No Longer Unreached |
| Congolese | Uganda | 27,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Lingala | Central African Republic | 19,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Congolese | Belgium | 15,500 | No Longer Unreached |
| Lingala | Canada | 3,500 | No Longer Unreached |
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