+3
People cluster
Bedouin
Unreached
< 0.1%
Evangelicals
Who they are
The Bedouin are Arabs whose way of life, for many centuries, was that of nomadic shepherds: families who moved across the desert with their camels, goats and sheep, in search of water and pasture. Today they live from the Middle East to North Africa, in countries like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Egypt and Algeria, and the group numbers close to 6 million people.
They speak dialects of Arabic and are organized into tribes and large families. Hospitality is sacred: the visitor is welcomed with coffee and food, even by those who have little. Most no longer live in tents. Many live in villages and towns and work as soldiers, drivers or small traders, but they keep their tribal pride, their poetry and the customs of the desert.
Almost all are Sunni Muslims (the largest branch of Islam), and faith is tied to the honor of the family and the tribe. There are very few Christians among them. Many have never heard the gospel from someone who speaks their dialect and understands their way of life.
What sets the subgroups apart
The Bedouin of the Arabian Peninsula, Jordan, Iraq and the regions of Sinai and the Negev desert live near the land the people came from and keep tribes with a long memory. In Jordan and Saudi Arabia, many families have strong ties to the government and the army. In the Negev, in Israel, many Bedouin have been moved into towns and villages, and some live in hamlets that the government does not officially recognize.
In North Africa, such as in Libya, Algeria and western Egypt, the Bedouin descend in large part from Arab tribes that migrated there about a thousand years ago and mixed with the local peoples. There the desert is the Sahara, the dialects are different and many tribes are tied to Islamic brotherhoods, such as the Senussi, very important in the history of eastern Libya.
Where they are still unreached
14
Countries
5.9M
Population
| Country | Share of the people | Population |
|---|---|---|
Jordan
|
26.6%
|
1.560.000 |
Saudi Arabia
|
19%
|
1.111.000 |
Libya
|
17.9%
|
1.050.000 |
Egypt
|
16.6%
|
974.000 |
Algeria
|
6.6%
|
388.000 |
United Arab Emirates
|
3.8%
|
221.000 |
Iraq
|
2.9%
|
167.000 |
Israel
|
2.3%
|
136.000 |
Morocco
|
2%
|
118.000 |
Syria
|
1.6%
|
91.000 |
Palestinian Territories
|
0.5%
|
30.000 |
Western Sahara
|
0.1%
|
5.900 |
Lebanon
|
0.1%
|
3.000 |
Tunisia
|
0%
|
1.300 |
The 20 peoples in this cluster
+2
What to pray for
Intercede for this people
May the Bedouin come to know Jesus as the Good Shepherd who searches for every sheep.
For families who left desert life and struggle to adapt to the city, to unemployment and to the loss of their customs.
For the Bedouin of Libya, Iraq and Syria, affected by wars and instability, that they may have peace and safety.
May Arab Christians be welcomed in Bedouin tents and homes and share the gospel with respect.
For Bedouin women and children, that they may have access to education and healthcare.
May Bible stories told in audio, in the Bedouin dialect and storytelling style, reach camps and villages.