A Comparison of Global People Group Lists

The Lord has graciously raised up several sets of global people group and language information. Each of these sets has a unique perspective in helping advance the Kingdom of God. There are at least four widely used global people and language group data sets:

These lists have various sources, definitions, philosophies, update mechanisms and publication cycles. Please see the various websites for further details. There is significant value in having multiple perspectives on the ethnic peoples of the world. Differences in the data help point out where more investigation is needed as well as identify errors.

The Ethnologue and World Christian Database have served as primary sources for the CPPI and Joshua Project lists, although CPPI and Joshua Project have supplemented these sources from field staff and regional and national researchers for much of Asia and other parts of the world.

Patrick Johnstone stated that people group "list holders experience close and warm links with each other, sharing both new and corrective information while respecting our differing networks of providers and users. We value peer challenges, which would not be possible with a single listing. Monopolies are never good."

While multiple data sets provide valuable perspectives on the Great Commission, they can also give rise to confusion and seeming contradictions. The table below is an attempt to outline some of the distinctives and uses of these four people group data sets. This is not an attempt to promote one list over another or suggest that one is "better" than another. Rather it is intended as a guide to show the unique purposes and value of each list.

Feature Ethno CPPI WCD JP
"People group" defined as all primary language speakers of a single language i.e., language groups. Yes      
"People group" defined as language groups and subdivisions of language groups (based upon cultural or dialect distinctives). An ethnolinguistic list.   Mostly Yes  
"People group" defined as ethnolingistic outside South Asia, but defined as castes and tribes in South Asia, each usually speaking several languages.       Yes
Total number of people groups without reference to country boundaries. (e.g., the Kazakhs of Central Asia are counted only one time regardless of how many countries they live in) 6,900   7,800 9,700
Total number of people groups when country boundaries are considered. (e.g., the Kazakhs are counted seven times if they live in seven countries. This is traditionally the way people group counts have been provided.) 10,400 11,650 13,600 16,300
Indicates primary religion for each people group in each country Partial Mostly Yes Yes
Provides percentage for each major world religion, in each people group in each country.     Yes Partial
Provides a measure of Evangelicals in each people group in each country.   Mostly   Mostly
Provides percentage of each Christianity subdivision (Protestant, Roman Catholic, etc.) in each people       Partial
Provides indication of non-Christian religion subdivisions, such as Sunni, Shia, Theravada, etc.   Partial Partial Partial
Provides World A, B, C categories for each people     Yes  
Provides a reliable way to report on each people group in the world "across countries", that is, summed from all countries of residence. Partial Partial Partial Yes
Provides ethnic / cultural code for each people group     Yes Yes
Provides a way to cluster people groups together for strategic planning purposes, based upon common ethnicity / linguistic factors. Yes Yes Yes Yes
Provides "location within country" information for each people group Partial   Partial Partial
Provides maps showing people group locations Partial     Partial
Indicates primary language for each people group in each country.   Mostly Yes Yes
Provides a way to show all languages spoken by each people group in each country, to the extent this information is available.       Yes
Provides population controls for each country by comparing to UN country populations for the current year.     Yes Yes
Provides an unengaged or unevangelized indicator for each people group   Yes Yes Partial
Provides resource availability information (scripture, Jesus film, etc.)   Yes Yes Yes
Provides non-English versions of people group data       Yes
Provides language dialect information for people groups. * WCD calls this "World Language Classification" Yes Yes via Dalby system* Yes
Provides measure of degree of discipleship for each people group     Yes  
Provides measure of number of agencies at work for each people group     Yes  
Provides way to summarize data by regions of the world   Yes Yes Yes
Maintains data in relational database tables, with referential integrity enforced. ? ? Yes Yes
Christian totals by country are reconciled with a full listing of denominations.     Yes  

As the people group lists are evaluated, a person should consider how the list is to be used. Language-focused ministries (audio and video distribution, Gospel radio, etc.) are likely to need a list that focuses on language groupings. Church planting and discipleship ministries need a list that emphasizes ethnic / cultural distinctives, as well as language.

These lists are gifts from the Lord to the global missions community. May the Lord continue to grant wisdom and discernment to all the efforts seeking to help clarify the remaining task of the Great Commission.
Unreached People Profile

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Photo Source: Galen Frysinger

Mission Question
How many Western Europe people groups have a complete Bible, Jesus Film and Gospel recordings and radio broadcasts but are less than 2% Evangelical?
Answer ...

Missions Scripture
"And the gospel must first be preached to all the nations."
Mark 13:10

Unreached Peoples Fact
The global annual growth rate of Christianity in general is 1.4%, but the growth rate of Evangelicals is 4.7% (Operation World 2001)
More Mission Facts ...