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Region · Oceania
Australia and New Zealand
Countries of Christian heritage that are increasingly secularized, where the challenge is to renew churches and reach Aborigines, Maori, and immigrants.
5 countries
224 peoples
13.1% evangelicals
The 5 flags of the region. Tap one to open the country.
Gospel reach among the 224 peoples
58Unreached · 25.9% of peoples
166reached peoples
13.1%evangelicals (weighted average)
- 21% Unreached (47)
- 4.9% Minimally reached (11)
- 10.7% Superficially reached (24)
- 28.6% Partially reached (64)
- 34.8% Significantly reached (78)
Largest unreached peoples:
Vietnamese 316K
Malay 206K
South Asian 177K
The Bible in the languages of the region
232languages spoken
129With complete Bible
103Without complete Bible
5With no translation at all
- 55.6% With complete Bible (129)
- 42.2% Only portions of the Bible (98)
- 2.2% With no translation at all (5)
Source: Joshua Project and Progress.Bible. Estimates, may vary. Compiled from the data of each country in this region.
What it is
Australia and New Zealand form Oceania’s most developed and urbanized subregion, alongside small neighboring territories such as Norfolk Island, the Cocos Islands and Christmas Island. They are nations of Western Christian tradition, colonized by Europeans, but with Indigenous peoples, Aboriginal Australians and New Zealand Māori, whose distinct identities long predate the colonizers’ arrival.
The region is home to 224 ethnic groups, and 58 of them are still considered unreached. This is a surprising figure: in wealthy countries with churches in almost every city, there are still pockets of peoples, especially immigrants from other parts of Asia and the Muslim world, who live without any contact with the gospel.
The region’s average evangelization is 14.4%, a relatively low proportion for historically Christian nations, reflecting the advance of secularism in recent decades. Of the 232 mapped ethnic groups, 103 still do not have the complete Bible in their own language.
Praying for Australia and New Zealand means praying for a spiritual awakening amid prosperity, and for newly arrived peoples who live alongside churches but have yet to hear the message of Jesus.
Context and characteristics
Developed nations
Australia and New Zealand have high incomes and established infrastructure, with full religious freedom.
Indigenous peoples
Aboriginal Australians and New Zealand Māori maintain their own identity and culture within Westernized societies.
Growing secularism
The historic Christian faith coexists with a steady rise in religious indifference over recent generations.
Diverse immigration
Communities from Asia and the Muslim world form pockets of unreached peoples within major cities.
Unreached peoples of this region 58 in total
What to pray for
Intercession
Pray for the 58 unreached peoples living among predominantly Christian nations.
Ask for a true spiritual awakening amid the advance of secularism.
Pray for local churches to open their doors to reach newly arrived immigrants.
Ask that the 103 ethnic groups without a complete Bible may receive this translation work.
Pray for Aboriginal and Māori peoples, for restored dignity and true faith.
Pray for workers to bring the gospel to immigrant neighborhoods in major cities.