South Sudan

Country: South Sudan

Number of People Groups

People Groups Unreached

6 (7.8%)

Progress Level

The Joshua Project Progress Scale is an estimate of the progress of church planting among a people group, people cluster, country or language. The Progress Scale is derived from people group values for percent Evangelical and percent Christian Adherent.

Level	Description	Criteria
1	Unreached - Few evangelicals and few who identify as Christians. Little, if any, history of Christianity.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians <= 5%
2	Minimally reached - Few evangelicals, but significant number who identify as Christians.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 5% and <= 50%
3	Superficially reached - Few evangelicals, but many who identify as Christians. In great need of spiritual renewal and commitment to biblical faith.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 50%
4	Partially reached - Evangelicals have a modest presence.	Evangelicals > 2% and <= 10%
5	Significantly reached - Evangelicals have a significant presence.	Evangelicals > 10%

Total
Population

11,102,000

Population in Unreached

579,000 (5.2%)

Largest Religion

Christianity (56.7%)

% Christian Adherent

56.7%

% Evangelical

10.86%

Evangelical Annual Growth Rate

0.0%

(Global Rate = 2.6%)

Map Notes

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼

Progress Scale: ●●●●●
☀
= Frontier peoples
People Group ▲	Population this Country	Global Population	Indigenous	Primary Language	Primary Religion	Progress Scale	% Christian Adherent	% Evangelical	Est. Workers Needed *
Acholi, Shuli	80,000	1,992,000		Acholi	Christianity	5 ●	89.00 %	15.00 %	-1 -
Ageer	22,000	22,000	●	Dinka, Northeastern	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	15.00 %	1.50 %	-1 -
Aja, Ajagbe	300	300	●	Gbaya	Islam	2 ●	6.00 %	2.00 %	-1 -
Anuak	119,000	278,000	●	Anuak	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	10.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Arab, Mongallese	219,000	219,000	●	Juba Arabic	Islam	1 ●	2.00 %	0.20 %	4
Arab, Sudanese	339,000	17,152,000	●	Arabic, Sudanese Spoken	Islam	1 ●	2.00 %	0.40 %	7
Avukaya	67,000	129,000	●	Avokaya	Christianity	4 ●	65.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Azande	886,000	2,983,000		Zande	Christianity	5 ●	85.00 %	25.00 %	-1 -
Bai, Bari	6,400	6,400	●	Bai	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	14.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Banda, Mid-Southern	2,500	137,000		Banda, Mid-Southern	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	25.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Banda, Togbo-Vara	2,100	53,000		Banda, Togbo-Vara	Islam	2 ●	10.00 %	1.50 %	-1 -
Banda, West Central	5,500	12,000		Banda, West Central	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	18.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Banda-Banda	3,600	140,000		Banda-Banda	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	25.00 %	4.00 %	-1 -
Banda-Mbres	7,300	66,000		Banda-Mbres	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	35.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Banda-Ndele	1,700	51,000		Banda-Ndele	Christianity	5 ●	60.00 %	11.00 %	-1 -
Bari	679,000	832,000	●	Bari	Christianity	4 ●	95.00 %	7.00 %	-1 -
Belanda Bor	24,000	24,000	●	Belanda Bor	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	16.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Beli, Jur Beli	55,000	55,000	●	Beli	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	40.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Biykol	500	500	●	Komo	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	10.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Bongo	19,000	19,000	●	Bongo	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	45.00 %	7.00 %	-1 -
Bug, Mangayat	600	600	●	Gbaya	Islam	4 ●	20.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Buldit	6,600	6,600	●	Opo	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	15.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Chinese, general	1,500	15,392,000		Chinese, Mandarin	Ethnic Religions	5 ●	20.00 %	12.00 %	-1 -
Daasanach	4,100	98,000	●	Daasanach	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	3.00 %	1.00 %	1
Deaf	95,000	47,588,000	●	Language unknown	Christianity	3 ●	60.50 %	-1	-1 -
Dhr Thuri, Wada	6,600	6,600	●	Thuri	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	14.00 %	4.00 %	-1 -
Di'dinga, Xaroxa	91,000	91,000	●	Didinga	Ethnic Religions	5 ●	18.00 %	12.00 %	-1 -
Dinka, Central	49,000	49,000	●	Dinka, South Central	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	14.00 %	9.00 %	-1 -
Dinka, Northeastern	797,000	797,000	●	Dinka, Northeastern	Christianity	5 ●	80.00 %	17.00 %	-1 -
Dinka, Northwestern	85,000	85,000	●	Dinka, Northwestern	Christianity	5 ●	65.00 %	12.00 %	-1 -
Dinka, South Central	709,000	709,000	●	Dinka, South Central	Christianity	4 ●	80.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Dinka, Southeastern	874,000	876,000	●	Dinka, Southeastern	Christianity	5 ●	75.00 %	18.00 %	-1 -
Dinka, Southwestern	1,245,000	1,245,000	●	Dinka, Southwestern	Christianity	5 ●	79.00 %	16.00 %	-1 -
Dongotono	4,200	4,200	●	Dongotono	Christianity	3 ●	95.00 %	2.00 %	-1 -
Gweri, Mo'da	1,300	1,300	●	Mo'da	Islam	4 ●	15.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Homa	4,100	4,100	●	Arabic, Sudanese Spoken	Islam	4 ●	5.00 %	4.00 %	-1 -
Indri, Yanderika	600	600	●	Indri	Islam	4 ●	25.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Jumjum	6,000	91,000	●	Jumjum	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	12.00 %	2.50 %	-1 -
Jur Modo	164,000	166,000	●	Jur Modo	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	15.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Kakwa, Bari Kakwa	135,000	404,000		Kakwa	Christianity	4 ●	65.00 %	7.00 %	-1 -
Kaligi, Feroge	24,000	24,000	●	Feroge	Islam	4 ●	20.00 %	4.00 %	-1 -
Kaliko	27,000	59,000	●	Keliko	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	25.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Koguru	400	2,500		Zande	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	40.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Komo	24,000	47,000	●	Komo	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	15.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Kresh, Kparla	14,000	44,000	●	Gbaya	Islam	4 ●	17.00 %	4.00 %	-1 -
Kuku	176,000	224,000		Kuku	Christianity	4 ●	75.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Kuku, Bari	29,000	29,000	●	Bari	Christianity	4 ●	70.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Lafon, Pari	70,000	70,000	●	Pari	Islam	4 ●	12.00 %	4.00 %	-1 -
Langgo	58,000	58,000	●	Lango	Christianity	5 ●	55.00 %	11.00 %	-1 -
Lokoya, Owoi	77,000	77,000	●	Lokoya	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	20.00 %	7.00 %	-1 -
Lopid, Lafit	106,000	106,000	●	Lopit	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	20.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Lotuho, Latuka	276,000	276,000	●	Otuho	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	45.00 %	7.50 %	-1 -
Luwo	234,000	234,000	●	Luwo	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	35.00 %	10.00 %	-1 -
Ma'adi	30,000	406,000		Ma'di	Christianity	5 ●	86.00 %	12.00 %	-1 -
Maaban	82,000	87,000	●	Mabaan	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	15.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Mondari, Chir	59,000	59,000	●	Mandari	Christianity	4 ●	75.00 %	9.00 %	-1 -
Morokodo, Ma'di	42,000	42,000	●	Morokodo	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	15.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Moru, Kala Moru	209,000	212,000	●	Moru	Christianity	4 ●	70.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Mundu	20,000	27,000	●	Mundu	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	25.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Murle	178,000	180,000	●	Murle	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	10.00 %	1.50 %	-1 -
Narim, Lariminit	6,500	6,500	●	Narim	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	20.00 %	2.20 %	-1 -
Ndogo	44,000	51,000	●	Ndogo	Christianity	4 ●	55.00 %	7.00 %	-1 -
Njalgulgule	1,900	1,900	●	Njalgulgule	Islam	1 ●	4.00 %	1.00 %	1
Nuer	1,409,000	1,683,000	●	Nuer	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	25.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Nyamusa-Molo	1,400	1,400	●	Nyamusa-Molo	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	18.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Nyangatom	11,000	52,000	●	Nyangatom	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	3.50 %	2.00 %	1
Olubogo, Ondoe Luloba	30,000	33,000	●	Olu'bo	Islam	4 ●	15.00 %	2.50 %	-1 -
Opo	6,600	9,500		Opo	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	10.00 %	2.00 %	-1 -
Reel, Atwot	103,000	103,000	●	Reel	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	14.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Shilluk, Dhocolo	509,000	515,000	●	Shilluk	Ethnic Religions	5 ●	40.00 %	11.00 %	-1 -
Suri, Kacipo-Balesi	4,200	7,600	●	Suri, Kacipo-Bale	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	3.00 %	2.00 %	1
Tara Baaka, Mbaka	55,000	58,000	●	Baka	Christianity	4 ●	65.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Tennet	11,000	11,000	●	Tennet	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	8.00 %	2.00 %	-1 -
Toposa	276,000	354,000	●	Toposa	Christianity	3 ●	90.00 %	0.30 %	-1 -
Uduk	9,700	58,000	●	Uduk	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	20.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Viri, Belanda Viri	66,000	66,000	●	Belanda Viri	Islam	4 ●	15.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Yulu	2,500	19,000		Yulu	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	25.00 %	4.00 %	-1 -
Totals: 77	11,102,000					6 ●	56.70 %	10.86 %	15
Unclassified / Other Individuals	92,000
UN Country Population (2020)	11,194,000

Other minor groups: 3

Very small groups reported, but outside the Joshua Project Small Group Policy. Some may not be viable and/or have incorrect Progress Scale values, population, language and religion information. The groups listed below are not included in overall Joshua Project people group counts. If you have information about these groups, please contact us.

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
People Group ▲	Progress Scale	Population	Primary Language	Primary Religion
Berti	1 ●	-1 Unknown	Arabic, Sudanese Spoken	Islam
Fulani, Ambororo	1 ●	-1 Unknown	Fulfulde, Adamawa	Islam
Me'en, Mekan	4 ●	-1 Unknown	Meen	Ethnic Religions
Totals: 3

For more information see the Joshua Project Small Group Policy

* An estimate of the number of pioneer workers needed for initial church planting among unreached people groups by country. Estimates are calculated only for unreached people groups and are based on ratio of 1 worker-unit (single person or married couple) per 50,000 living in an unreached people group by country, or for example one team of four worker-units per 200,000 people. Some workers may already be onsite. Many more workers are needed beyond this initial estimate.

Download Data Data Sources Definitions

Prayer Cards

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
State ▲	Estimated Population
Central Equatoria	1,466,000
Eastern Equatoria	1,184,000
Jungoli	1,775,000
Lakes	962,000
North Bahr-al-Ghazal	1,009,000
Unity	793,000
Upper Nile	1,246,000
Warap	1,283,000
West Bahr-al-Ghazal	441,000
West Equatoria	810,000
States: 10	10,969,000
UN Country Population	11,194,000

South Sudan Prayer Cards
	South Sudan prayer cards. All Unreached

South Sudan Links
Operation World
World Factbook
God Reports (stories from the field)
Religious Freedom Report
UN Human Development Report
Ethnologue Language Listing

South Sudan Maps
Language Map (Ethnologue)
Perry-Castaneda Map Collection

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
Class ▲	Population	% Popl	% Hindu	% Muslim	% Christian	% Buddhist	% Sikh	% Other
Forward Caste (FC)	287,717,000	2,591.6 %	97.3 %	0.0 %	1.1 %	0.1 %	0.0 %	1.5 %
Other Backward Classes (OBC)	765,974,000	6,899.4 %	70.6 %	24.5 %	1.7 %	0.1 %	2.3 %	0.8 %
Scheduled Caste (SC)	205,728,000	1,853.1 %	93.5 %	0.0 %	0.5 %	3.4 %	2.6 %	0.0 %
Scheduled Tribe (ST)	114,522,000	1,031.5 %	81.9 %	1.5 %	9.2 %	0.8 %	0.0 %	6.7 %
	11,102,000

Why Use Caste to Define Peoples?

South Asia Communities / Castes: An Overview

A History of South Asia People Group Lists

Why Include Religion When Defining South Asia Peoples?

Level	Description	Criteria
1	Unreached - Few evangelicals and few who identify as Christians. Little, if any, history of Christianity.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians <= 5%
2	Minimally reached - Few evangelicals, but significant number who identify as Christians.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 5% and <= 50%
3	Superficially reached - Few evangelicals, but many who identify as Christians. In great need of spiritual renewal and commitment to biblical faith.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 50%
4	Partially reached - Evangelicals have a modest presence.	Evangelicals > 2% and <= 10%
5	Significantly reached - Evangelicals have a significant presence.	Evangelicals > 10%

Progress Scale

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
Language ▲	Code	# Peoples w/ this Primary Language	# Unreached w/ this Primary Language	Scripture Status	NT Text Online	NT Audio Online	Jesus Film Online	Audio Recordings Online	Gospel Tract Online
Acholi	ach	1	0	5 Complete Bible	1	1	1	1	1
Anuak	anu	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Arabic, Sudanese Spoken	apd	2	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Avokaya	avu	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Bai	bdj	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Baka	bdh	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Banda, Mid-Southern	bjo	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Banda, Togbo-Vara	tor	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Banda, West Central	bbp	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Banda-Banda	bpd	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Banda-Mbres	bqk	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Banda-Ndele	bfl	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Bari	bfa	2	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Belanda Bor	bxb	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Belanda Viri	bvi	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Beli	blm	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Bongo	bot	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Chinese, Mandarin	cmn	1	0	5 Complete Bible	1	1	1	1	1
Daasanach	dsh	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Didinga	did	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Dinka, Northeastern	dip	2	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Dinka, Northwestern	diw	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Dinka, South Central	dib	2	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Dinka, Southeastern	dks	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	-1	1	-1
Dinka, Southwestern	dik	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	1
Dongotono	ddd	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Feroge	fer	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Gbaya	krs	3	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Indri	idr	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Juba Arabic	pga	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Jumjum	jum	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Jur Modo	bex	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Kakwa	keo	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Keliko	kbo	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Komo	xom	2	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Kuku	ukv	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Lango	lno	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	1
Lokoya	lky	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Lopit	lpx	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Luwo	lwo	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Ma'di	mhi	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Mabaan	mfz	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Mandari	mqu	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Mo'da	gbn	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Morokodo	mgc	1	0	3 Bible Portions	1	-1	-1	1	-1
Moru	mgd	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	1
Mundu	muh	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Murle	mur	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Narim	loh	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Ndogo	ndz	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Njalgulgule	njl	1	1	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Nuer	nus	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	1
Nyamusa-Molo	nwm	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Nyangatom	nnj	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Olu'bo	lul	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Opo	lgn	2	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Otuho	lot	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Pari	lkr	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Reel	atu	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Shilluk	shk	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Suri, Kacipo-Bale	koe	1	1	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Tennet	tex	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Thuri	thu	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Toposa	toq	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Uduk	udu	1	0	4 New Testament	1	1	1	1	-1
Unknown	xxx	1	0	Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Yulu	yul	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Zande	zne	2	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Totals:	68	77	6		13	28	34	53	6

MAJOR RELIGIONS ▲	Percent
Buddhism	0.0 %
Christianity (Evangelical 10.9 %)	56.7 %
Ethnic Religions	34.7 %
Hinduism	0.0 %
Islam	8.5 %
Non-Religious	0.1 %
Other / Small Religions	0.0 %
Unknown	0.0 %

CHRISTIAN SEGMENTS ▲	Percent
Anglican	15.3 %
Independent	4.6 %
Orthodox	0.0 %
Other Christian	0.0 %
Protestant	25.0 %
Roman Catholic	52.8 %

Notes:

Major Religions: Religion percentages are derived from summing Joshua Project's data for all people groups who live in each country. The number of individuals who practice each religion, by people group, are summed. This number is divided by the country's total population to derive the religion's percentage.

Christianity Segments: Christian segment percentages are derived from summing Joshua Project's data for all the people groups who live in each country. The number of individuals who practice each segment of Christianity, by people group, are summed. This number is divided by the country's total number of Christians to derive the Christian segment's percentage.

Networking Possibilities

Search the Web
There are many agencies and churches looking for additional staff to help them in their mission and calling in South Sudan. Internet searches are probably the best way to find these organizations. The following are some example search topics you might try:

Church planting agencies in South Sudan
Christian ministry in South Sudan
Business as mission
Christian literature distribution
Evangelism agencies
Christian discipleship
Short term Christian missions

Long term Christian missions
Urban ministries
Christian media opportunities
Bible translation opportunities
Relief and development agencies
Clean water projects
Christian medical outreaches

South Sudan Statistics
People Groups	77
Unreached People Groups	6 (7.8%)
Population	11,102,000
Population Annual Growth Rate	2.9%
Population in Unreached	579,000 (5.2%)
Primary Religion	Christianity
Percent Christian Adherent	56.7%
Percent Evangelical	10.9%
Evangelical Annual Growth Rate	0.0%
Pioneer Workers Needed *	15
Country Progress Level	5 ●
Urbanization	20%
Continent	Africa
Region	Africa, East and Southern
10/40 Window	No
Country Code	OD
Official Language(s)	English \| Arabic, Sudanese Spoken
Literacy Rate	27%
Estimated Illiterate Population	8,104,000
Persecution Ranking	Not ranked

South Sudan Prayer Cards
	South Sudan prayer cards. All Unreached

South Sudan Links
Operation World
World Factbook
God Reports (stories from the field)
Religious Freedom Report
UN Human Development Report
Ethnologue Language Listing

South Sudan Maps
Language Map (Ethnologue)
Perry-Castaneda Map Collection

South Sudan Videos
South Sudan Prayercast Video

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