Country: South Africa
Number of People Groups
65
People Groups Unreached
8 (12.3%)
Progress Level
Total
Population
59,926,000
Population in Unreached
996,000 (1.7%)
Largest Religion
% Christian Adherent
77.0%
% Evangelical
21.01%
Evangelical Annual Growth Rate
2.2%
| Photo | People Group ▲ | Population this Country |
Global Population |
Indigenous | Primary Language | Primary Religion | Progress Scale |
% Christian Adherent |
% Evangelical | Est. Workers Needed * |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Afrikaner | 3,993,000 | 4,485,000 | ● | Afrikaans | Christianity | 5 ● | 89.00 % | 23.25 % | -1 - |
|
Americans, U.S. | 12,000 | 193,021,000 | English | Christianity | 5 ● | 77.00 % | 28.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Anglo-South African | 1,350,000 | 1,479,000 | ● | English | Christianity | 5 ● | 85.00 % | 19.93 % | -1 - |
|
Arab, Egyptian | 61,000 | 70,150,000 | Arabic, Egyptian Spoken | Islam | 4 ● | 13.00 % | 3.90 % | -1 - | |
|
Arab, Lebanese | 5,700 | 7,268,000 | Arabic, North Levantine Spoken | Islam | 2 ● | 32.00 % | 0.50 % | -1 - | |
|
Bhojpuri Bihari | 58,000 | 85,000 | Bhojpuri | Hinduism | 1 ● | 5.00 % | 0.50 % | 1 | |
|
Birwa | 11,000 | 149,000 | Birwa | Ethnic Religions | 4 ● | 34.00 % | 6.00 % | -1 - | |
|
British | 272,000 | 54,072,000 | English | Christianity | 4 ● | 60.00 % | 8.80 % | -1 - | |
|
Chinese, general | 362,000 | 15,472,000 | English | Non-Religious | 4 ● | 8.00 % | 5.70 % | -1 - | |
|
Coloured | 5,343,000 | 5,343,000 | ● | Afrikaans | Christianity | 5 ● | 82.00 % | 24.36 % | -1 - |
|
|
Coloured Creole | 40,000 | 40,000 | ● | Oorlams | Christianity | 4 ● | 80.00 % | 6.00 % | -1 - |
|
Deaf | 450,000 | 48,207,000 | ● | South African Sign Language | Christianity | 3 ● | 75.24 % | -1 | -1 - |
|
Dutch | 30,000 | 15,341,000 | Dutch | Non-Religious | 4 ● | 46.00 % | 4.50 % | -1 - | |
|
French | 12,000 | 50,609,000 | French | Christianity | 3 ● | 61.00 % | 1.00 % | -1 - | |
|
German | 15,000 | 66,484,000 | German, Standard | Christianity | 4 ● | 64.00 % | 2.10 % | -1 - | |
|
Greek | 21,000 | 10,219,000 | Greek | Christianity | 3 ● | 91.00 % | 0.40 % | -1 - | |
|
Griqua | 100 | 100 | ● | English | Christianity | 4 ● | 100.00 % | 10.00 % | -1 - |
|
Gujarati | 32,000 | 3,367,000 | Gujarati | Hinduism | 1 ● | 3.00 % | 0.40 % | 1 | |
|
Hindi | 468,000 | 2,675,000 | Hindi | Hinduism | 1 ● | 4.00 % | 0.60 % | 9 | |
|
|
Indian, English-speaking | 464,000 | 541,000 | English | Hinduism | 2 ● | 10.00 % | 1.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Italian | 20,000 | 37,986,000 | Italian | Christianity | 3 ● | 82.00 % | 1.10 % | -1 - | |
|
Jew, English-speaking | 71,000 | 5,876,000 | ● | English | Ethnic Religions | 1 ● | 0.50 % | 0.10 % | 1 |
|
|
Korana | 11,000 | 11,000 | ● | Language unknown | Christianity | 4 ● | 70.00 % | 10.00 % | -1 - |
|
Korean | 1,300 | 81,089,000 | Korean | Christianity | 5 ● | 31.00 % | 16.80 % | -1 - | |
|
Kung-Ekoka | 4,200 | 24,000 | Kung-Ekoka | Ethnic Religions | 2 ● | 8.00 % | 0.20 % | -1 - | |
|
Kxoe, Xun | 1,400 | 8,100 | Khwedam | Ethnic Religions | 5 ● | 20.00 % | 15.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Lembaa | 1,388,000 | 1,489,000 | ● | Venda | Ethnic Religions | 5 ● | 40.00 % | 17.72 % | -1 - |
|
Makhuwa | 18,000 | 4,307,000 | Makhuwa | Ethnic Religions | 4 ● | 21.00 % | 3.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Malay, Cape | 325,000 | 325,000 | ● | Afrikaans | Islam | 1 ● | 0.50 % | 0.20 % | 6 |
|
Mauritian | 42,000 | 1,080,000 | Morisyen | Hinduism | 4 ● | 35.00 % | 6.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Nama, Khoekhoe | 2,200 | 358,000 | Khoekhoe | Christianity | 5 ● | 70.00 % | 14.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Ndebele, Southern | 1,250,000 | 1,250,000 | ● | Ndebele | Christianity | 5 ● | 80.00 % | 12.18 % | -1 - |
|
|
Nghuki | 700 | 700 | ● | Afrikaans | Christianity | 3 ● | 90.00 % | 2.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Nusan Nung, Ngamani | 500 | 3,300 | Xoo | Ethnic Religions | 2 ● | 14.00 % | 2.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Nyanja, Chewa | 3,300 | 12,830,000 | Chichewa | Christianity | 5 ● | 65.00 % | 13.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Pedi, North Sotho | 5,344,000 | 5,543,000 | ● | Sotho, Northern | Christianity | 5 ● | 82.00 % | 12.18 % | -1 - |
|
Portuguese | 1,877,000 | 19,451,000 | Portuguese | Christianity | 4 ● | 94.00 % | 3.32 % | -1 - | |
|
|
Romani, Romanichal | 9,900 | 179,000 | Angloromani | Christianity | 4 ● | 65.00 % | 3.00 % | -1 - | |
|
|
Ronga | 1,300 | 667,000 | Ronga | Christianity | 4 ● | 80.00 % | 3.00 % | -1 - | |
|
|
Setswana | 406,000 | 852,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 68.00 % | 16.00 % | -1 - |
|
Shona | 23,000 | 1,220,000 | Shona | Christianity | 5 ● | 65.00 % | 12.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Somali | 24,000 | 24,095,000 | Somali | Islam | 1 ● | 0.50 % | 0.40 % | 1 | |
|
Sotho, Khutswe | 611,000 | 611,000 | ● | Sotho, Northern | Christianity | 5 ● | 80.00 % | 14.00 % | -1 - |
|
Sotho, Southern | 4,453,000 | 6,229,000 | ● | Sotho, Southern | Christianity | 5 ● | 82.00 % | 21.04 % | -1 - |
|
South Asian, Telugu-speaking | 5,000 | 1,145,000 | Telugu | Hinduism | 4 ● | 7.00 % | 7.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Swahili | 2,500 | 1,809,000 | Swahili | Islam | 0 ☀ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
Swazi | 1,496,000 | 2,563,000 | Swati | Christianity | 5 ● | 75.00 % | 16.61 % | -1 - | |
|
Tamil (Hindu traditions) | 33,000 | 2,764,000 | Tamil | Hinduism | 2 ● | 12.00 % | 1.50 % | -1 - | |
|
Tsonga, Shangaan | 2,615,000 | 7,300,000 | ● | Tsonga | Christianity | 5 ● | 68.00 % | 21.04 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswa | 25,000 | 1,123,000 | Tswa | Christianity | 5 ● | 75.00 % | 11.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Tswana, Detribalized | 290,000 | 393,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 85.00 % | 15.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswana-Hurutshe | 1,527,000 | 1,541,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 70.00 % | 22.15 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswana-Kwena | 58,000 | 291,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 72.00 % | 13.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswana-Malete | 58,000 | 99,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 73.00 % | 16.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswana-Ngwaketse | 174,000 | 397,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 72.00 % | 13.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswana-Ngwato | 58,000 | 588,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 70.00 % | 17.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswana-Rolong | 580,000 | 610,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 78.00 % | 13.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswana-Tlhaping | 406,000 | 406,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 60.00 % | 17.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswana-Tlharu | 464,000 | 464,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 65.00 % | 13.00 % | -1 - |
|
|
Tswana-Tlokwa | 232,000 | 242,000 | ● | Setswana | Christianity | 5 ● | 55.00 % | 14.00 % | -1 - |
|
Urdu | 15,000 | 2,113,000 | Urdu | Islam | 0 ☀ | 0.00 % | 0.00 % | 1 | |
|
|
Vasekela Bushman, Maligo | 3,800 | 19,000 | Northwestern Kung | Ethnic Religions | 2 ● | 32.00 % | 2.00 % | -1 - | |
|
Xhosa | 8,523,000 | 8,593,000 | ● | Xhosa | Christianity | 5 ● | 81.00 % | 26.58 % | -1 - |
|
Xhosa-Tembu | 913,000 | 913,000 | ● | Xhosa | Christianity | 5 ● | 75.00 % | 20.00 % | -1 - |
|
Zulu | 13,560,000 | 14,118,000 | ● | Zulu | Christianity | 5 ● | 81.00 % | 28.79 % | -1 - |
| Totals: 65 | 59,926,000 | 8 ● | 77.03 % | 21.01 % | 21 | |||||
| Unclassified / Other Individuals | 116,000 | |||||||||
| UN Country Population (2021) | 60,042,000 |
| Province ▲ | Estimated Population |
|---|---|
| Eastern Cape | 7,087,000 |
| Free State | 2,871,000 |
| Gauteng | 13,572,000 |
| KwaZulu-Natal | 11,207,000 |
| Limpopo | 5,873,000 |
| Mpumalanga | 4,392,000 |
| North West | 3,796,000 |
| Northern Cape | 1,209,000 |
| Western Cape | 6,361,000 |
| Provinces: 9 | 56,368,000 |
| UN Country Population | 60,042,000 |
 |
South Africa prayer cards. All Unreached |
| Operation World |
| World Factbook |
| God Reports (stories from the field) |
| Religious Freedom Report |
| UN Human Development Report |
| Ethnologue Language Listing |
| National Bible Society |
| Political Map (UN) |
| Language Map (Ethnologue) |
| Ethnolinguistic Map (Univ of Texas) |
| Perry-Castaneda Map Collection |
| Class ▲ | Population | % Popl | % Hindu | % Muslim | % Christian | % Buddhist | % Sikh | % Other | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
Forward Caste (FC) | 289,990,000 | 483.9 % | 97.3 % | 0.0 % | 1.1 % | 0.1 % | 0.0 % | 1.5 % |
|
|
Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 774,293,000 | 1,292.1 % | 70.2 % | 24.9 % | 1.7 % | 0.1 % | 2.3 % | 0.8 % |
|
|
Scheduled Caste (SC) | 207,376,000 | 346.1 % | 93.5 % | 0.0 % | 0.5 % | 3.4 % | 2.6 % | 0.0 % |
|
|
Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 115,473,000 | 192.7 % | 81.9 % | 1.5 % | 9.1 % | 0.8 % | 0.0 % | 6.7 % |
| 59,926,000 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afrikaans | afr | 4 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Angloromani | rme | 1 | 0 | 3 Bible Portions | 1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Arabic, Egyptian Spoken | arz | 1 | 0 | 4 New Testament | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Arabic, North Levantine Spoken | apc | 1 | 0 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Bhojpuri | bho | 1 | 1 | 4 New Testament | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Birwa | brl | 1 | 0 | 1 Translation Needed | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Chichewa | nya | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Dutch | nld | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| English | eng | 7 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| French | fra | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| German, Standard | deu | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Greek | ell | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Gujarati | guj | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Hindi | hin | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Italian | ita | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Khoekhoe | naq | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Khwedam | xuu | 1 | 0 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Korean | kor | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Kung-Ekoka | knw | 1 | 0 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Makhuwa | vmw | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1 |
| Morisyen | mfe | 1 | 0 | 4 New Testament | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Ndebele | nbl | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Northwestern Kung | vaj | 1 | 0 | 2 Translation Started | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Oorlams | oor | 1 | 0 | 1 Translation Needed | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Portuguese | por | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Ronga | rng | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 | -1 |
| Setswana | tsn | 11 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Shona | sna | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Somali | som | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sotho, Northern | nso | 2 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Sotho, Southern | sot | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| South African Sign Language | sfs | 1 | 0 | 3 Bible Portions | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Swahili | swh | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Swati | ssw | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Tamil | tam | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Telugu | tel | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tsonga | tso | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Tswa | tsc | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Unknown | xxx | 1 | 0 | Unspecified | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 | -1 |
| Urdu | urd | 1 | 1 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Venda | ven | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | -1 |
| Xhosa | xho | 2 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Xoo | nmn | 1 | 0 | 2 Translation Started | -1 | -1 | -1 | 1 | -1 |
| Zulu | zul | 1 | 0 | 5 Complete Bible | 1 | -1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals: | 44 | 65 | 8 | 30 | 24 | 35 | 38 | 24 |
| MAJOR RELIGIONS ▲ | Percent |
|---|---|
| Buddhism | 0.1 % |
| Christianity (Evangelical 21.0 %) | 77.0 % |
| Ethnic Religions | 12.7 % |
| Hinduism | 1.3 % |
| Islam | 1.3 % |
| Non-Religious | 1.6 % |
| Other / Small Religions | 6.0 % |
| Unknown | 0.0 % |
| CHRISTIAN SEGMENTS ▲ | Percent |
|---|---|
| Anglican | 2.5 % |
| Independent | 48.0 % |
| Orthodox | 0.1 % |
| Other Christian | 0.1 % |
| Protestant | 26.8 % |
| Roman Catholic | 21.7 % |
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.
There are many agencies and churches looking for additional staff to help them in their mission and calling in South Africa. 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 Africa
- Christian ministry in South Africa
- 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
| People Groups | 65 |
| Unreached People Groups | 8 (12.3%) |
| Population | 59,926,000 |
| Population Annual Growth Rate | 0.8% |
| Population in Unreached | 996,000 (1.7%) |
| Primary Religion | Christianity |
| Percent Christian Adherent | 77.0% |
| Percent Evangelical | 21.0% |
| Evangelical Annual Growth Rate | 2.2% |
| Pioneer Workers Needed * | 21 |
| Country Progress Level | 5 ● |
| Urbanization | 66% |
| Continent | Africa |
| Region | Africa, East and Southern |
| 10/40 Window | No |
| Country Code | SF |
| Official Language(s) | English | Afrikaans |
| Literacy Rate | 93% |
| Estimated Illiterate Population | 4,195,000 |
| Persecution Ranking | Not ranked |
|
South Africa prayer cards. All Unreached |
| Operation World |
| World Factbook |
| Religious Freedom Report |
| UN Human Development Report |
| Ethnologue Language Listing |
| National Bible Society |
| Political Map (UN) |
| Language Map (Ethnologue) |
| Ethnolinguistic Map (Univ of Texas) |
| Perry-Castaneda Map Collection |
| South Africa Prayercast Video |
