The world's oldest Christendom
Armenia was the first nation to officially adopt Christianity, in the early 4th century.
Region · Europe
Caucasus
Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan, on the mountainous border between Europe and Asia.
3 countries
51 peoples
0.7% evangelicals
The 3 flags of the region. Tap one to open the country.
Gospel reach among the 51 peoples
34Unreached · 66.7% of peoples
17reached peoples
0.7%evangelicals (weighted average)
33Without complete Bible
- 32 Unreached 62.7%
- 2 Minimally reached 3.9%
- 15 Superficially reached 29.4%
- 2 Partially reached 3.9%
- 0 Significantly reached 0%
Largest unreached peoples:
North Azeri 9.5M
Turkish Azeri 295K
Lezgin 177K
What it is
The Caucasus comprises 3 countries on the border between Europe and Asia: Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan. It is a region of ancient mountains and distinct peoples, where Armenia is considered the first nation in history to adopt Christianity as its official religion, and Georgia also preserves an Orthodox tradition dating back to the church’s earliest centuries.
Alongside these two nations with deeply Christian identities, Azerbaijan is predominantly Muslim, making the Caucasus a meeting point between the world’s oldest Eastern Christendom and Islam. Even in countries with a Christian tradition, personal practice of faith is rare: the Armenian and Georgian Orthodox churches are seen as an essential part of national identity, but not always as a path lived out individually.
The figures confirm this picture: only 2.1% of the Caucasus population is evangelical. Of the 51 peoples living in the region, 34 are unreached, a proportionally high number reflecting the great ethnic diversity of the Caucasus mountains. There are already 64 languages with some Bible translation cataloged, but 33 still have no part of Scripture, almost half the total.
Pray for a region where Christianity is ancient, yet where many mountain peoples still await a church in their own language.
Context and characteristics
Georgian Orthodoxy
Georgia also maintains an Orthodox Christian tradition dating back to the church's earliest centuries.
Meeting with Islam
Predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan makes the Caucasus a region of direct religious encounter.
High ethnic diversity
The Caucasus mountains are home to dozens of distinct peoples, many small and isolated.
Faith as national identity
Being an Orthodox Christian is part of being Armenian or Georgian, even when personal practice is rare.
Countries in this region
Peoples overview
Peoples of the region
3Countries
51people groups
34unreached
0.7%evangelicals (weighted average)
- 32 Unreached 62.7%
- 2 Minimally reached 3.9%
- 15 Superficially reached 29.4%
- 2 Partially reached 3.9%
Compiled from the data of each country in this region.
The Bible in the languages of the region
64languages spoken
31With complete Bible
33Without complete Bible
- 31 With complete Bible 48.4%
- 33 Only portions of the Bible 51.6%
Source: Joshua Project and Progress.Bible. Estimates, may vary. Compiled from the data of each country in this region.
Unreached peoples of this region 34 in total
What to pray for
Intercession
For Armenia and Georgia, that their ancient Christian tradition may become a personal, living faith.
For the 34 unreached peoples living in the Caucasus mountains.
For Bible translation into the 33 languages that still have no part of Scripture.
For predominantly Muslim Azerbaijan and the few Christians living there.
For unity between the region's Orthodox churches and evangelical communities.
For isolated mountain peoples who still have no access to a nearby church.
For peace in a region historically marked by ethnic and border tensions.