Burkina Faso people groups, languages and religions

Country: Burkina Faso

Number of People Groups

People Groups Unreached

27 (33.8%)

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

23,182,000

Population in Unreached

5,390,000 (23.3%)

Largest Religion

Islam (55.0%)

% Christian Adherent

21.17%

% Evangelical

10.60%

Evangelical Annual Growth Rate

4.1%

(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 *
Algerian, Arabic-speaking	24,000	36,748,000		Arabic, Algerian Spoken	Islam	0 ☀	0.04 %	0.00 %	1
Bambara	7,500	7,210,000		Bamanankan	Islam	1 ●	4.00 %	1.80 %	1
Batonu, Baruba	30,000	1,504,000		Baatonum	Islam	4 ●	10.00 %	3.90 %	-1 -
Biali	3,800	194,000	●	Biali	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	8.00 %	4.70 %	-1 -
Birifor, Northern	255,000	255,000	●	Birifor, Malba	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	16.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Ble, Jalkunan	2,000	2,000	●	Jalkunan	Islam	4 ●	10.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Bobo Fing	78,000	119,000	●	Konabere	Ethnic Religions	5 ●	27.00 %	12.50 %	-1 -
Bobo Madare	283,000	283,000	●	Bobo Madare, Southern	Islam	0 ☀	0.02 %	0.01 %	6
Bolon	37,000	50,000	●	Bolon	Islam	1 ●	3.00 %	1.45 %	1
Bozo, Tige	3,700	335,000		Bozo, Tieyaxo	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Buamu	419,000	419,000	●	Buamu	Ethnic Religions	5 ●	33.00 %	14.00 %	-1 -
Busanga	696,000	1,150,000	●	Bisa	Ethnic Religions	5 ●	25.00 %	11.00 %	-1 -
Bwamu, Laa Laa	134,000	134,000	●	Bwamu, Laa Laa	Ethnic Religions	5 ●	28.30 %	14.00 %	-1 -
Bwamu, Twi	48,000	48,000	●	Bwamu, Cwi	Ethnic Religions	5 ●	28.30 %	14.00 %	-1 -
Dagaari Dioula, Wala	42,000	42,000	●	Dagaari Dioula	Islam	1 ●	1.50 %	1.20 %	1
Dagara	386,000	386,000	●	Dagara, Northern	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	25.00 %	1.50 %	-1 -
Deaf	233,000	49,661,000	●	Language unknown	Islam	2 ●	20.69 %	-1	-1 -
Dogon, Jamsay	600	295,000		Dogon, Jamsay	Islam	2 ●	8.00 %	2.00 %	-1 -
Dogon, Tomo Kan	26,000	355,000	●	Dogon, Tomo Kan	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	21.00 %	6.50 %	-1 -
Dogose	50,000	50,000	●	Dogose	Islam	1 ●	5.00 %	1.00 %	1
Dogoso	18,000	18,000	●	Dogoso	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	0.17 %	0.17 %	1
Dyan	35,000	35,000	●	Dyan	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	10.00 %	5.00 %	-1 -
Dyula	2,372,000	4,581,000	●	Jula	Islam	1 ●	0.80 %	0.01 %	47
Dzuun, Samogo	28,000	28,000	●	Dzuungoo	Islam	1 ●	1.00 %	0.30 %	1
English-speaking, general	900	54,000		English	Christianity	5 ●	80.00 %	32.00 %	-1 -
Ewe	44,000	6,658,000		Ewe	Christianity	5 ●	80.00 %	12.00 %	-1 -
French	17,000	50,459,000		French	Christianity	3 ●	72.00 %	0.70 %	-1 -
Fulani, Maasina	12,000	2,011,000		Fulfulde, Maasina	Islam	1 ●	0.20 %	0.15 %	1
Fulani, Northeastern Burkina	456,000	456,000	●	Fulfulde, Western Niger	Islam	1 ●	0.30 %	0.20 %	9
Fulani, Western	1,371,000	2,075,000	●	Fulfulde, Western Niger	Islam	1 ●	0.70 %	0.23 %	27
Gouin	81,000	85,000	●	Cerma	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	14.00 %	7.50 %	-1 -
Gourma	1,206,000	1,730,000	●	Gourmanchema	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	19.00 %	8.01 %	-1 -
Gur, Ninkare	63,000	647,000	●	Farefare	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	6.00 %	2.50 %	-1 -
Hausa	3,400	55,414,000		Hausa	Islam	1 ●	0.10 %	0.10 %	1
Jotoni	1,700	24,000		Jowulu	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	3.00 %	1.60 %	1
Kaan, Gan	15,000	15,000	●	Kaansa	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	6.00 %	4.00 %	-1 -
Karaboro, Eastern	78,000	88,000	●	Karaboro, Eastern	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	10.00 %	2.90 %	-1 -
Karaboro, Western	74,000	74,000	●	Karaboro, Western	Islam	1 ●	4.00 %	2.00 %	1
Kasem	131,000	330,000	●	Kasem	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	12.00 %	8.50 %	-1 -
Khe	3,900	3,900	●	Khe	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	8.20 %	7.00 %	-1 -
Khisa, Komono	7,500	19,000	●	Khisa	Islam	1 ●	5.00 %	0.49 %	1
Kolsi, Ko	40,000	40,000	●	Winye	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	8.00 %	4.50 %	-1 -
Kpeego	2,600	2,600	●	Kpeego	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	4.00 %	1.00 %	1
Kurumfe, Fulse	354,000	363,000	●	Koromfe	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	13.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Kusaal	20,000	732,000		Kusaal	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	10.00 %	2.90 %	-1 -
Lela	333,000	333,000	●	Lyele	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	14.00 %	4.80 %	-1 -
Lobi	344,000	723,000	●	Lobi	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	4.00 %	1.50 %	7
Maninka, Eastern	12,000	4,337,000		Maninkakan, Eastern	Islam	1 ●	1.50 %	1.20 %	1
Marka, Dafing	211,000	270,000	●	Marka	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	14.00 %	5.50 %	-1 -
Moba	4,400	504,000	●	Moba	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	7.00 %	2.70 %	-1 -
Mossi	11,101,000	13,749,000	●	Moore	Islam	5 ●	31.50 %	17.74 %	-1 -
Natioro	6,000	6,000	●	Natioro	Islam	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	1
Nuna, Northern	122,000	122,000	●	Nuni, Northern	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	16.00 %	6.00 %	-1 -
Nuna, Southern	230,000	230,000	●	Nuni, Southern	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	25.00 %	8.00 %	-1 -
Paleni	400	400	●	Paleni	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	5.00 %	2.00 %	1
Pana, Sama	10,000	19,000	●	Pana	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	4.00 %	0.40 %	1
Pwo	28,000	28,000	●	Phuie	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	7.00 %	4.20 %	-1 -
Red Bobo, Bwa	140,000	482,000	●	Bomu	Ethnic Religions	5 ●	28.00 %	12.00 %	-1 -
Samo, Kalemse	28,000	32,000	●	Kalamse	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	10.00 %	1.40 %	-1 -
Samo, Maya	76,000	76,000	●	Samo, Maya	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	20.00 %	9.50 %	-1 -
Samo, Samo Matya	234,000	236,000	●	Samo, Matya	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	20.00 %	8.70 %	-1 -
Samo, Southern	174,000	174,000	●	Samo, Southern	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	30.00 %	9.50 %	-1 -
Seemogo	25,000	32,000	●	Seeku	Islam	5 ●	15.00 %	12.00 %	-1 -
Senoufo, Central	70,000	75,000	●	Senoufo, Sicite	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	8.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Senoufo, Nanerige	149,000	149,000	●	Senoufo, Nanerige	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	10.00 %	2.80 %	-1 -
Senoufo, Niangolo	112,000	112,000	●	Senoufo, Senara	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	8.00 %	1.55 %	-1 -
Siamou, Seme	27,000	64,000	●	Siamou	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	6.00 %	1.00 %	-1 -
Sininkere, Silanke	12,000	12,000	●	Sininkere	Islam	2 ●	6.00 %	0.15 %	-1 -
Sissala	33,000	33,000	●	Sissala	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	16.00 %	10.00 %	-1 -
Songhai, Humburi	14,000	47,000	●	Songhay, Humburi Senni	Islam	1 ●	1.00 %	0.02 %	1
Tenbo, Loron	4,500	15,000	●	Teen	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	3.00 %	0.50 %	1
Tiefo	30,000	30,000	●	Tiefo	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	6.00 %	4.50 %	-1 -
Toussian, Northern	44,000	44,000	●	Toussian, Northern	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	5.00 %	2.70 %	-1 -
Toussian, Southern	44,000	44,000	●	Toussian, Southern	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	8.00 %	3.80 %	-1 -
Tuareg, Tamasheq	191,000	914,000	●	Tamasheq	Islam	0 ☀	0.08 %	0.08 %	4
Turka, Tyurama	76,000	76,000	●	Turka	Ethnic Religions	4 ●	12.00 %	9.00 %	-1 -
Vige, Viemo	16,000	16,000	●	Viemo	Ethnic Religions	1 ●	5.00 %	1.40 %	1
Wara	11,000	11,000	●	Wara	Ethnic Religions	2 ●	7.00 %	0.60 %	-1 -
Yoruba	81,000	39,913,000		Yoruba	Islam	4 ●	45.00 %	7.50 %	-1 -
Zarma	1,700	5,130,000	●	Zarma	Islam	4 ●	10.00 %	3.00 %	-1 -
Totals: 80	23,182,000					27 ●	21.17 %	10.60 %	121
Unclassified / Other Individuals	69,000
UN Country Population (2023)	23,251,000

Other minor groups: 1

Burkina Faso

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.

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People Group ▲	Progress Scale	Population	Primary Language	Primary Religion
British	4 ●	-1 Unknown	English	Christianity
Totals: 1

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.

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Province ▲	Estimated Population
Boucle du Mouhoun	2,033,000
Cascades	846,000
Centre	2,936,000
Centre-Est	1,654,000
Centre-Nord	1,737,000
Centre-Ouest	1,690,000
Centre-Sud	897,000
Est	1,829,000
Haut-Bassins	2,221,000
Nord	1,679,000
Plateau-Central	977,000
Sahel	1,435,000
Sud-Ouest	892,000
Provinces: 13	20,826,000
UN Country Population	23,251,000

Burkina Faso Prayer Cards
	Burkina Faso prayer cards. All Unreached

Burkina Faso Links
Operation World
Open Doors Persecution Ranking
World Factbook
Religious Freedom Report
UN Human Development Report
Ethnologue Language Listing
National Bible Society

Burkina Faso Maps
Political Map (UN)
Language Map (Ethnologue)
Ethnolinguistic Map (Univ of Texas)
Perry-Castaneda Map Collection

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
Arabic, Algerian Spoken	arq	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	1
Baatonum	bba	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Bamanankan	bam	1	1	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	1
Biali	beh	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Birifor, Malba	bfo	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Bisa	bib	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Bobo Madare, Southern	bwq	1	1	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Bolon	bof	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Bomu	bmq	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Bozo, Tieyaxo	boz	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Buamu	box	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Bwamu, Cwi	bwy	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Bwamu, Laa Laa	bwj	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Cerma	cme	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Dagaari Dioula	dgd	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Dagara, Northern	dgi	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Dogon, Jamsay	djm	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Dogon, Tomo Kan	dtm	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	1	1	1
Dogose	dos	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Dogoso	dgs	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	1	-1	-1	-1
Dyan	dya	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Dzuungoo	dnn	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
English	eng	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	1
Ewe	ewe	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	1
Farefare	gur	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
French	fra	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	1
Fulfulde, Maasina	ffm	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Fulfulde, Western Niger	fuh	2	2	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Gourmanchema	gux	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Hausa	hau	1	1	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	1
Jalkunan	bxl	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Jowulu	jow	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Jula	dyu	1	1	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Kaansa	gna	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Kalamse	knz	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Karaboro, Eastern	xrb	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Karaboro, Western	kza	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Kasem	xsm	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Khe	kqg	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Khisa	kqm	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Konabere	bbo	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Koromfe	kfz	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Kpeego	cpo	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Kusaal	kus	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Lobi	lob	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Lyele	lee	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Maninkakan, Eastern	emk	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Marka	rkm	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Moba	mfq	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Moore	mos	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Natioro	nti	1	1	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Nuni, Northern	nuv	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Nuni, Southern	nnw	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Paleni	pnl	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Pana	pnq	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Phuie	pug	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Samo, Matya	stj	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Samo, Maya	sym	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Samo, Southern	sbd	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Seeku	sos	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Senoufo, Nanerige	sen	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Senoufo, Senara	seq	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Senoufo, Sicite	sep	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Siamou	sif	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Sininkere	skq	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Sissala	sld	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Songhay, Humburi Senni	hmb	1	1	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Tamasheq	taq	1	1	4 New Testament	-1	1	1	1	-1
Teen	lor	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Tiefo	tiq	1	0	0 Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Toussian, Northern	tsp	1	0	2 Translation Started	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Toussian, Southern	wib	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Turka	tuz	1	0	3 Bible Portions	-1	1	1	1	-1
Unknown	xxx	1	0	Unspecified	-1	-1	-1	-1	-1
Viemo	vig	1	1	3 Bible Portions	-1	1	-1	1	-1
Wara	wbf	1	0	1 Translation Needed	-1	-1	-1	1	-1
Winye	kst	1	0	4 New Testament	-1	-1	1	1	-1
Yoruba	yor	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	1
Zarma	dje	1	0	5 Complete Bible	-1	1	1	1	-1
Totals:	79	80	27		0	46	38	70	8

Networking Possibilities

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Search the Web
There are many agencies and churches looking for additional staff to help them in their mission and calling in Burkina Faso. 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 Burkina Faso
Christian ministry in Burkina Faso
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

Burkina Faso Statistics
People Groups	80
Unreached People Groups	27 (33.8%)
Population	23,182,000
Population Annual Growth Rate	2.9%
Population in Unreached	5,390,000 (23.3%)
Primary Religion	Islam
Percent Christian Adherent	21.2%
Percent Evangelical	10.6%
Evangelical Annual Growth Rate	4.1%
Pioneer Workers Needed *	121
Country Progress Level	5 ●
Urbanization	29%
Continent	Africa
Region	Africa, West and Central
10/40 Window	Yes
Country Code	UV
Official Language(s)	French \| Moore
Literacy Rate	41%
Estimated Illiterate Population	13,677,000
Persecution Ranking	23 (1=Highest) Open Doors

Burkina Faso Maps
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Ethnolinguistic Map (Univ of Texas)
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Burkina Faso Prayer Cards / Guide
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Burkina Faso Links
Operation World
Stratus Earth Index
Prosperity Index
Social Progress Index
Open Doors Persecution Ranking
World Factbook
Religious Freedom Report
UN Human Development Report
Ethnologue Language Listing
National Bible Society

Burkina Faso Videos
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