Bible Center
The Bible in Ethiopia
63 languages spoken in Ethiopia are still waiting for a complete Bible.
Where the country's languages stand
Languages without the Bible
70%
27 Complete Bible
28 New Testament complete
23 Portions translated
12 Nothing translated yet
90Languages in the country
27With complete Bible
63Without complete Bible
0With no translation at all
Bible translation by language
These are the country's languages that do not yet have the complete Bible, plus the official language. Languages brought from other countries that already have the complete Bible are not on this list.
| Language | Status | Speakers |
|---|---|---|
| Amharic Official | Complete Bible | 35.868.100 |
| Silt’e | New Testament complete | 1.854.000 |
| Awngi | New Testament complete | 1.124.800 |
| Ethiopian Sign Language | Portions translated | 574.000 |
| Alaba-K’abeena | New Testament complete | 564.000 |
| Gumuz | New Testament complete | 540.000 |
| Mesqan | Portions translated | 495.000 |
| Xamtanga | New Testament complete | 475.000 |
| Inor | Portions translated | 401.000 |
| Berta | Portions translated | 374.400 |
| Kistane | New Testament complete | 322.000 |
| Yemsa | New Testament complete | 316.000 |
| Me’en | New Testament complete | 313.000 |
| Koorete | New Testament complete | 309.000 |
| Argobba | Translation started | 249.000 |
| Ale | Portions translated | 156.000 |
| Libido | Portions translated | 155.000 |
| Basketo | New Testament complete | 154.000 |
| Shekkacho | New Testament complete | 153.000 |
| Hamer-Banna | New Testament complete | 145.000 |
| Wolane | Portions translated | 142.000 |
| Burji | New Testament complete | 142.000 |
| Dirasha | Portions translated | 129.000 |
| Daasanach | New Testament complete | 95.000 |
| Borna | New Testament complete | 95.000 |
| Oyda | New Testament complete | 89.000 |
| Gayil | New Testament complete | 85.000 |
| Majang | New Testament complete | 72.600 |
| Sheko | New Testament complete | 72.000 |
| Dizin | New Testament complete | 72.000 |
| Saho | New Testament complete | 64.000 |
| Harari | Portions translated | 61.000 |
| Girirra | Translation started | 60.000 |
| Tsamai | Portions translated | 55.000 |
| Tirmaga-Chai Suri | Portions translated | 55.000 |
| Nyangatom | Portions translated | 50.000 |
| Dorze | Need not assessed | 46.000 |
| Mositacha | Portions translated | 39.000 |
| Zay | New Testament complete | 35.000 |
| Zayse | Portions translated | 35.000 |
| Melo | New Testament complete | 31.000 |
| Uduk | New Testament complete | 30.000 |
| Tsaara | New Testament complete | 26.000 |
| Sudanese Arabic | New Testament complete | 24.000 |
| Toposa | Portions translated | 23.000 |
| Seze | Translation started | 20.000 |
| Nayi | Translation started | 19.000 |
| Komo (Sudan) | Portions translated | 17.000 |
| Mursi | Translation started | 15.000 |
| Gwama | Portions translated | 13.000 |
| Arbore | Portions translated | 13.000 |
| Baiso | New Testament complete | 11.000 |
| Hozo | Portions translated | 9.100 |
| Dime | Portions translated | 7.600 |
| Ta’izzi-Adeni Arabic | Portions translated | 6.900 |
| Kachama-Ganjule | Translation started | 5.100 |
| Mawes Aasse | Translation started | 4.600 |
| Kacipo-Bale Suri | Translation started | 4.100 |
| Kwegu | Translation started | 3.900 |
| Opo | Portions translated | 3.500 |
| Murle | New Testament complete | 2.900 |
| Karo (Ethiopia) | Portions translated | 2.900 |
| Ganza | Translation started | 800 |
| Daats’iin | Translation started | 500 |
Source: Joshua Project. Numbers updated periodically.