Unreached peoples of Tanzania
An overview of the country's people groups, focusing on those who still have little or no access to the gospel in their own language and culture.
Overview
Tanzania has 154 catalogued ethnic groups, one of the highest numbers in Africa. Of these, 24 peoples are still considered unreached by the gospel, most concentrated in the country's dry interior and among groups of Muslim tradition on the coast, such as the Alagwa and the Bajuni. At the same time, peoples such as the Sukuma, the country's largest ethnic group, already have a significant Christian presence, though still marked by heavy mixing with traditional beliefs.
In the country i
54%Christians
18.2%evangelicals
By population i
9%unreached
62%significantly reached
- 9% Unreached (6.3M)
- 1.6% Minimally reached (1.1M)
- 0.8% Superficially reached (561K)
- 26.5% Partially reached (18.6M)
- 62% Significantly reached (43.6M)
By people groups i
154people groups
24unreached · 15.6%
- 15.6% Unreached (24)
- 6.5% Minimally reached (10)
- 3.9% Superficially reached (6)
- 33.8% Partially reached (52)
- 40.3% Significantly reached (62)
Source of people group data: Joshua Project (joshuaproject.net). Estimates, may vary.
Source: Joshua Project. Estimates, may vary.
Unreached people groups · 154
| People | Population | Language | Evang. | Chr. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Somali Frontier | 28.9M | Somali | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Gujarati Frontier | 2.9M | Gujarati | 0.3% | 1.4% |
| Alagwa Frontier | 67K | Alagwa | < 0.1% | < 0.1% |
| Kacchi | 120K | Kacchi | 0.1% | 1% |
| Swahili Bajuni | 141K | Swahili | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| Tanzanian Nyika | 46K | Tanzanian Nyika | 0.2% | 10% |
| Dhaiso | 11K | Dhaiso | 0.9% | 1.4% |
| Mijikenda Digo Frontier | 724K | Chidigo | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Ndwewe | 35K | Ndwewe | - | 48% |
| Gujarati Creole | 101K | Cutchi-Swahili | 0.1% | 3% |
| Kami | 38K | Kami (Tanzania) | 1% | 1% |
| Vinza | 34K | Vinza | 0.1% | 40% |
| Ndengereko | 100K | Ndengereko | 0.7% | 2% |
| Swahili-speaking Jew Frontier | 500 | Swahili | 0% | 0% |
| Muslim Yao | 3.9M | Yao | 0.7% | 1.3% |
| Matumbi | 318K | Matumbi | 0.7% | 1.2% |
| Hindi | 2.8M | Hindi | 0.7% | 2% |
| Pemba Swahili | 61K | Swahili | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| Punjabi | 2.1M | Eastern Punjabi | 0.3% | 1% |
| Segeju Frontier | 24K | Swahili | < 0.1% | < 0.1% |
| Makwe Frontier | 76K | Makwe | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| Shirazi Frontier | 760K | Swahili | 0% | 0% |
| Swahili Tumbato Frontier | 100K | Swahili | 0% | 0% |
| Swahili Frontier | 1.2M | Swahili | 0.9% | 1.8% |
| Zanzibari Swahili Frontier | 861K | Swahili | 0% | 0% |
| Bungu | 121K | Bungu | < 0.1% | 80% |
| Pimbwe | 98K | Pimbwe | 0.1% | 80% |
| Rungwa | 61K | Rungwa | 0.1% | 74% |
| Greek | 10M | Greek | 0.3% | 94.4% |
| Temi | 67K | Temi | 1.5% | 10% |
| Bende | 65K | Bende | 1.4% | 45% |
| Arab | 2M | Swahili | 1.9% | 14.4% |
| Ndonde Hamba | 31K | Ndonde Hamba | 1% | 10% |
| Kabwa | 25K | Kabwa | 1% | 10% |
| Rufiji | 676K | Rufiji | 1.5% | 9% |
| Deaf Frontier | 27.5M | Pakistan Sign Language | 1.8% | 3.7% |
| Tongwe | 73K | Tongwe | 1.1% | 20% |
| Zaramo Zalamo | 1.5M | Zaramo | 2% | 3% |
| Rombo | 248K | Rombo | 2% | 60% |
| Makhuwa-Meetto | 2.4M | Makhuwa-Meetto | 2.6% | 4.8% |
| Machinga | 122K | Machinga | 2% | 13% |
| Safwa | 533K | Safwa | 2.1% | 5.1% |
| Kutu | 152K | Kutu | 2.1% | 3.1% |
| German | 66.7M | Standard German | 2.5% | 64.3% |
| Kisankasa | 16K | Kisankasa | 2.6% | 4.6% |
| Zinza | 466K | Zinza | 3% | 25% |
| Benamanga | 71K | Benamanga | 3% | 50% |
| Mbugwe | 57K | Mbugwe | 3% | 15% |
| Ngindo | 743K | Ngindo | 3% | 22% |
| Nindi | 200 | Nindi | 3% | 30% |
| Va-Ma’a | 79K | Mbugu | 3.5% | 10% |
| Hadzabi | 2K | Hadza | 3.9% | 7.1% |
| Doe | 12K | Doe | 4% | 20% |
| Malila | 141K | Malila | 4% | 15% |
| Ruwila | 7K | Ruwila | 4% | 55% |
| Datooga | 17K | Datooga | 4% | 25% |
| Makonde | 2.8M | Makonde | 4.6% | 8% |
| Magoma | 20K | Magoma | 4% | 60% |
| Ikizu | 116K | Ikizu | 4% | 35% |
| Nguu | 446K | Ngulu | 4% | 15% |
| Datooga Barabaig | 207K | Datooga | 4% | 6% |
| Burungi | 46K | Burunge | 4% | 15% |
| Subi | 129K | Subi | 5% | 10% |
| Sandawe | 92K | Sandawe | 5% | 15% |
| Mbunga | 98K | Mbunga | 5% | 20% |
| Sangu | 253K | Sangu (Tanzania) | 5% | 25% |
| Sumbwa | 644K | Sumbwa | 5% | 32% |
| Zigua | 980K | Zigula | 5% | 9% |
| Maasai Arusha | 476K | Maasai | 6% | 35% |
| Kara Regi | 290K | Kara (Tanzania) | 6% | 25% |
| Mwera Nyasa | 13K | Mwera | 6% | 25% |
| Maasai Baraguyu | 875K | Maasai | 7% | 25% |
| Rangi | 826K | Rangi | 7% | 20% |
| Nyamwezi | 2.1M | Nyamwezi | 8% | 34% |
| Jita | 426K | Jita | 8% | 45% |
| Ha | 2.3M | Ha | 8% | 60% |
| Mandarin-speaking Han Chinese | 925.1M | Mandarin Chinese | 8.3% | 9.9% |
| Matambwe | 66K | Matambwe | 8% | 10% |
| Vidunda | 15K | Vidunda | 8% | 90% |
| Ndendeule | 231K | Ndendeule | 8% | 20% |
| Wanda | 81K | Wanda | 8% | 70% |
| Kwere | 339K | Kwere | 8% | 22% |
| Nyamwanga | 517K | Nyamwanga | 8.1% | 76.4% |
| British | 55M | English | 8.9% | 60.4% |
| Suba-Simbiti | 181K | Suba-Simbiti | 9% | 70% |
| Kwaya | 237K | Kwaya | 9% | 45% |
| Mwera | 1.1M | Mwera (Tanzania, Lindi Region) | 9% | 31% |
| Joba | 296K | Kiviila | 9.1% | 98.8% |
| Goroa | 121K | Gorwaa | 10% | 65% |
| Isanzu | 109K | Isanzu | 10% | 45% |
| Kisi | 22K | Kisi | 10% | 45% |
| Bondei | 120K | Bondei | 10% | 32% |
| Iramba | 983K | Nilamba | 11% | 55% |
| Sagara | 267K | Sagala | 11% | 15% |
| Manda | 49K | Manda (Tanzania) | 11% | 90% |
| Ndamba | 186K | Ndamba | 11% | 85% |
| Kalanga | 432K | Kalanga | 11.1% | 71.9% |
| Lambya | 243K | Lambya | 11.2% | 85.7% |
| Tanzanian Nyiha | 1.4M | Nyiha (Tanzania) | 11.9% | 40% |
| Iraqw | 1.1M | Iraqw | 12% | 41% |
| Nyambo | 870K | Nyambo | 12% | 45% |
| Kagulu | 482K | Kagulu | 12% | 60% |
| Kahe | 9K | Kahe | 12% | 94% |
| Pare | 1.2M | Asu (Tanzania) | 12% | 40% |
| Sukuma | 12.2M | Sukuma | 12% | 50% |
| Wanji | 61K | Vwanji | 12% | 35% |
| Kuria | 1.2M | Kuria | 12.2% | 54.1% |
| Ndali | 628K | Ndali | 12.6% | 56.9% |
| Gweno | 5K | Gweno | 13% | 95% |
| Konongo | 172K | Konongo | 13% | 71% |
| Mpoto | 107K | Mpoto | 13% | 70% |
| Pogoro | 624K | Pogolo | 13% | 83% |
| Kimbu | 263K | Kimbu | 13% | 75% |
| Kinga | 304K | Kinga | 14% | 85% |
| Matengo | 506K | Matengo | 14% | 80% |
| Hangaza | 506K | Hangaza | 14% | 90% |
| Shambala | 1.5M | Shambala | 14% | 45% |
| Pangwa | 211K | Pangwa | 14% | 85% |
| Kerewe | 337K | Kerewe | 14% | 95% |
| Luguru Ruguru | 1.6M | Luguru | 14% | 61% |
| Ikoma | 74K | Ikoma-Nata-Isenye | 15% | 95% |
| Vunjo | 826K | Vunjo | 15% | 93% |
| Fipa | 435K | Fipa | 15% | 95% |
| Nguruimi | 113K | Ngoreme | 15% | 85% |
| Chagga | 1.4M | Mochi | 15.3% | 92.7% |
| Turu | 1.3M | Nyaturu | 16% | 82% |
| Mambwe-Lungu | 1.1M | Mambwe-Lungu | 16.9% | 56.2% |
| Bena | 1.5M | Bena (Tanzania) | 17% | 96% |
| Chingoni | 313K | Chingoni | 17% | 70% |
| Machambe | 857K | Machame | 18% | 95% |
| Shubi | 120K | Shubi | 18% | 92% |
| Meru Rwo | 304K | Rwa | 18% | 94% |
| Nyakyusa | 2M | Nyakyusa-Ngonde | 18.3% | 91.1% |
| Gogo | 3.1M | Gogo | 19% | 79% |
| Zanaki | 209K | Zanaki | 19% | 80% |
| Bembe | 793K | Bembe | 19.9% | 88.8% |
| Hehe | 1.7M | Hehe | 20% | 96% |
| Haya | 2.8M | Haya | 21% | 81.1% |
| Nyankore Hororo | 186K | Nyankore | 21.8% | 95.7% |
| Maasai | 2.1M | Maasai | 22.9% | 42.8% |
| Tutsi | 5M | Rundi | 26.3% | 94.4% |
| Nyanja | 15.2M | Chichewa | 26.5% | 88.1% |
| Rwandan Hutu | 14.3M | Kinyarwanda | 27.2% | 90.2% |
| Taveta | 38K | Taveta | 29.4% | 70.5% |
| Hutu Rundi | 13.9M | Rundi | 29.9% | 94% |
| Bemba | 6.8M | Bemba | 32.4% | 96.9% |
| Assa | 800 | Maasai | 33.4% | 53% |
| Dabida Taita | 418K | Dawida | 35.8% | 79% |
| Baganda | 9M | Ganda | 41.5% | 67.2% |
| Soga Basoga | 4.5M | Soga | 43% | 84% |
| Banyankore | 5.2M | Nyankore | 45.8% | 98% |
| Luo | 7.5M | Dholuo | 60.3% | 97.9% |
| Kamba | 7.5M | Kamba | 65.3% | 97.9% |
| Kikuyu | 11.8M | Gikuyu | 71.3% | 97.9% |
Intercede for Tanzania and its peoples
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