Discover > All Regions / Continents > All Countries > Region: Africa, East and Southern > Country: South Africa
Country Code (FIPS):
South Africa
  • People Groups
  • People Progress
  • People Photos
  • Languages
  • Religions
  • Ministries
  • Details
South Africa – People Groups
(Click headings for sorting )
Definitions:
Progress Scale:  
People Selector:
People Groups
(click people name for profile)
Population Indig % Evangel % Adherent Progress Scale Primary Religion Primary Language Pho Map Txt
Afrikaner4,018,000Y23.25 %89.00 %5 ChristianityAfrikaansP
Afrikaner
 T
Americans, U.S.12,00028.00 %77.00 %5 ChristianityEnglishP
Americans, U.S.
 T
Anglo-South African1,359,000Y19.93 %85.00 %5 ChristianityEnglishP
Anglo-South African
  
Arab, Egyptian61,0003.90 %13.00 %4 IslamArabic, Egyptian SpokenP
Arab, Egyptian
 T
Arab, Lebanese5,7000.50 %32.00 %2 IslamArabic, LevantineP
Arab, Lebanese
 T
Bhojpuri Bihari58,0000.50 %5.00 %1 HinduismBhojpuriP
Bhojpuri Bihari
M
Bhojpuri Bihari of South Africa
T
Birwa12,0006.00 %34.00 %4 Ethnic ReligionsBirwa   
British274,0008.80 %60.00 %4 ChristianityEnglishP
British
  
Chinese, general364,0005.70 %8.00 %4 Non-ReligiousEnglishP
Chinese, general
  
Coloured5,376,000Y24.36 %82.00 %5 ChristianityAfrikaansP
Coloured
  
Coloured Creole40,000Y6.00 %80.00 %4 ChristianityOorlams   
Deaf453,000Y75.24 %3 ChristianitySouth African Sign LanguageP
Deaf
 T
Dutch31,0004.50 %46.00 %4 Non-ReligiousDutchP
Dutch
  
French12,0001.00 %61.00 %3 ChristianityFrenchP
French
 T
German15,0002.10 %64.00 %4 ChristianityGerman, StandardP
German
  
Greek21,0000.40 %91.00 %3 ChristianityGreekP
Greek
 T
Griqua100Y10.00 %100.00 %4 ChristianityEnglishP
Griqua
  
Gujarati32,0000.40 %3.00 %1 HinduismGujaratiP
Gujarati
M
Gujarati of South Africa
T
Hindi471,0000.60 %4.00 %1 HinduismHindiP
Hindi
 T
Indian, English-speaking467,0001.00 %10.00 %2 HinduismEnglishP
Indian, English-speaking
 T
Italian20,0001.10 %82.00 %3 ChristianityItalianP
Italian
 T
Jew, English-speaking51,000Y0.10 %0.50 %1 Ethnic ReligionsEnglishP
Jew, English-speaking
 T
Korana11,000Y10.00 %70.00 %4 ChristianityLanguage unknown   
Korean1,40016.80 %31.00 %5 ChristianityKoreanP
Korean
 T
Kung-Ekoka4,2000.20 %8.00 %2 Ethnic ReligionsKung-EkokaP
Kung-Ekoka
  
Kxoe, Xun1,50015.00 %20.00 %5 Ethnic ReligionsKhwedamP
Kxoe, Xun
  
Lembaa1,396,000Y17.72 %40.00 %5 Ethnic ReligionsVendaP
Lembaa
  
Makhuwa18,0003.00 %21.00 %4 Ethnic ReligionsMakhuwaP
Makhuwa
M
Makhuwa of South Africa
 
Malay, Cape327,000Y0.20 %0.50 %1 IslamAfrikaansP
Malay, Cape
M
Malay, Cape of South Africa
T
Mauritian43,0006.00 %35.00 %4 HinduismMorisyenP
Mauritian
  
Nama, Khoekhoe2,20014.00 %70.00 %5 ChristianityKhoekhoeP
Nama, Khoekhoe
  
Ndebele, Southern1,258,000Y12.18 %80.00 %5 ChristianityNdebeleP
Ndebele, Southern
  
Nghuki700Y2.00 %90.00 %3 ChristianityAfrikaans   
Nusan Nung, Ngamani5002.00 %14.00 %2 Ethnic ReligionsXoo   
Nyanja, Chewa3,30013.00 %65.00 %5 ChristianityChichewaP
Nyanja, Chewa
  
Pedi, North Sotho5,377,000Y12.18 %82.00 %5 ChristianitySotho, NorthernP
Pedi, North Sotho
  
Portuguese1,889,0003.32 %94.00 %4 ChristianityPortugueseP
Portuguese
 T
Romani, Romanichal10,0003.00 %65.00 %4 ChristianityAngloromaniP
Romani, Romanichal
 T
Ronga1,3003.00 %80.00 %4 ChristianityRonga   
Setswana408,000Y16.00 %68.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Shona23,00012.00 %65.00 %5 ChristianityShonaP
Shona
  
Somali24,0000.40 %0.50 %1 IslamSomaliP
Somali
 T
Sotho, Khutswe614,000Y14.00 %80.00 %5 ChristianitySotho, NorthernP
Sotho, Khutswe
  
Sotho, Southern4,481,000Y21.04 %82.00 %5 ChristianitySotho, SouthernP
Sotho, Southern
  
South Asian, Telugu-speaking5,0007.00 %7.00 %4 HinduismTeluguP
South Asian, Telugu-speaking
  
Swahili2,5000.00 %0.00 %1 IslamSwahiliP
Swahili
 T
Swazi1,505,00016.61 %75.00 %5 ChristianitySwatiP
Swazi
  
Tamil (Hindu traditions)33,0001.50 %12.00 %2 HinduismTamilP
Tamil (Hindu traditions)
 T
Tsonga, Shangaan2,631,000Y21.04 %68.00 %5 ChristianityTsongaP
Tsonga, Shangaan
  
Tswa25,00011.00 %75.00 %5 ChristianityTswa   
Tswana, Detribalized292,000Y15.00 %85.00 %5 ChristianitySetswanaP
Tswana, Detribalized
  
Tswana-Hurutshe1,536,000Y22.15 %70.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Tswana-Kwena58,000Y13.00 %72.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Tswana-Malete58,000Y16.00 %73.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Tswana-Ngwaketse175,000Y13.00 %72.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Tswana-Ngwato58,000Y17.00 %70.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Tswana-Rolong583,000Y13.00 %78.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Tswana-Tlhaping408,000Y17.00 %60.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Tswana-Tlharu467,000Y13.00 %65.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Tswana-Tlokwa233,000Y14.00 %55.00 %5 ChristianitySetswana   
Urdu15,0000.00 %0.00 %1 IslamUrduP
Urdu
 T
Vasekela Bushman, Maligo3,8002.00 %32.00 %2 Ethnic ReligionsNorthwestern Kung   
Xhosa8,575,000Y26.58 %81.00 %5 ChristianityXhosaP
Xhosa
  
Xhosa-Tembu919,000Y20.00 %75.00 %5 ChristianityXhosaP
Xhosa-Tembu
  
Zulu13,644,000Y28.79 %81.00 %5 ChristianityZuluP
Zulu
  
Total People Groups:   65 60,273,000 30         47 4 21
Unclassified / Other Individuals 141,000  
UN Country Population (2023) 60,414,000  
Data Notes
Data Sources
Progress Scale:  
People Selector:
South Africa – People Progress

% of People Groups [1]
 
% of Population in People Group [1] [2]
 
Progress Level Peoples % of Peoples Population % of Population [2]
  1 - Unreached 8 12.3 % 981,000 1.6 %
  2 - Minimally reached 6 9.2 % 514,000 0.9 %
  3 - Superficially reached 5 7.7 % 507,000 0.8 %
  4 - Partially reached 15 23.1 % 2,774,000 4.6 %
  5 - Significantly reached 31 47.7 % 55,497,000 92.1 %
Totals 65   60,273,000  


NOTES:
  1. Small Values: Values less than .3% are not shown on pie charts for labeling clarity.
  2. % of Population in People Group:  The percentage of the population that lives in a people group at each progress level. Not every person living in an unreached people group is necessarily unreached.
South Africa – Languages
(Click headings for sorting )
Definitions:
Progress Scale:  
People Selector:
Language
(click Language name for details)
Language
Code
# Peoples
Primary
Language
# Unreached
Primary
Language
Bible
Status
Bible
Locator
Audio NT
Online
Jesus
Film
Online
Audio
Recordings
Online
Gospel
Tract
Online
Afrikaansafr41Complete
Angloromanirme10Portions
Arabic, Egyptian Spokenarz10Complete
Arabic, Levantineapc10Portions
Bhojpuribho11NT
Birwabrl10Trans Started
Chichewanya10Complete
Dutchnld10Complete
Englisheng71Complete
Frenchfra10Complete
German, Standarddeu10Complete
Greekell10Complete
Gujaratiguj11Complete
Hindihin11Complete
Italianita10Complete
Khoekhoenaq10Complete
Khwedamxuu10Portions
Koreankor10Complete
Kung-Ekokaknw10Portions
Language unknownxxx10Unspecified
Makhuwavmw10Complete
Morisyenmfe10NT
Ndebelenbl10Complete
Northwestern Kungvaj10Trans Started
Oorlamsoor10Trans Needed
Portuguesepor10Complete
Rongarng10Complete
Setswanatsn110Complete
Shonasna10Complete
Somalisom11Complete
Sotho, Northernnso20Complete
Sotho, Southernsot10Complete
South African Sign Languagesfs10Portions
Swahiliswh11Complete
Swatissw10Complete
Tamiltam10Complete
Telugutel10Complete
Tsongatso10Complete
Tswatsc10Complete
Urduurd11Complete
Vendaven10Complete
Xhosaxho20Complete
Xoonmn10Trans Started
Zuluzul10Complete
Totals: 44 65 8   39 27 35 39 26
Data Notes
Data Sources
Progress Scale:  
People Selector:
South Africa – Religions
Major Religions [1] [3]
Evangelicals: 21.0 %
(subset of Christianity)
 
% Evangelical and % Professing Christian Trends [4]

NOTES:
  1. Major Religions: Each People Group's population is multiplied by the Major Religion percentages for that people group. Results are summed for each Religion for all Peoples within the country.
  2. Christianity Segments: Each People Group's population is multiplied by the Christianity Segments percentages for that people group. Results are summed for each Christianity Segment for all peoples within the country.
  3. Small Values: Values less than .3% are not shown on pie charts for labeling clarity.
  4. % Evangelical and % Professing Christian Trends:  Source Operation World Editions 1986, 1993, 2001, 2010.
    Zero percent data values may mean unknown or unavailable.
South Africa – Possible Ministry Involvement
  • Below are lists of ministries that may work in South Africa. Ministries in the South Africa section probably minister in this country. Ministries in the Africa, East and Southern section only possibly minister in this country. The purpose of this information is to assist potential new missionaries connect with sending agencies and for general ministry networking. Click on the links below to visit ministry websites for further information. Visit the Power-Of-Connecting "Find a Network Tool" to find further networking information.
  • The lists below do not include all ministries at work in this country or region. There are likely many excellent ministries not listed here. Omissions are not intentional, but occur simply from lack of data. Please contact us to suggest other ministries to include here. Inclusion here is not an endorsement by Joshua Project.
Ministries in South Africa   Ministries in Africa, East and Southern
(Click headings for sorting )   (Click headings for sorting )
Country Level Ministries Size
Advent Christian General Conference, World MissionsMedium
Africa Inland Mission, InternationalMedium
Africa Inter-Mennonite MissionSmall
African EnterpriseMedium
African LeadershipSmall
American Baptist Churches of the USA, Int'l MinistriesMedium
Baptist International OutreachMedium
Biblical Ministries WorldwideMedium
Calvary InternationalMedium
Calvary MinistriesMedium
Christ Community ChurchMedium
Christian Church of North America - MissionsSmall
Church Resource MinistriesMedium
CityTeam MinistriesSmall
CrossWorldMedium
Dorothea MissionMedium
Dutch Reformed Church - Nederduitse Gereformeerde KerkMedium
Emmanuel International MissionSmall
Evangelical Baptist MissionsMedium
Experience MissionMedium
Foursquare Missions InternationalMedium
Global Outreach MissionMedium
Global Partners / Wesleyan World MissionsMedium
Global YearSmall
Globe InternationalMedium
Gospel Fellowship AssociationMedium
Gospel Furthering FellowshipSmall
Hope for the HungryMedium
In Touch Mission InternationalMedium
International Board of Jewish MissionsSmall
International Christian MinistriesMedium
Intervarsity Christian FellowshipMedium
Into All The WorldSmall
Iris Ministries, Inc.Medium
Jews for JesusMedium
Lott Carey Baptist Foreign Mission ConventionMedium
Mission to the WorldMedium
Missionary Ventures InternationalMedium
Navigators, International Missions GroupMedium
Reformed Church in AmericaMedium
Samaria MissionSmall
SIM InternationalLarge
Tear NetherlandsSmall
Teen Missions InternationalMedium
The Leprosy MissionMedium
Things To Come MissionMedium
Walk Thru the Bible MinistriesMedium
White FieldsMedium
World Missions Far Corners IncorporatedLarge
World Partners USAMedium
World Relief USAMedium
Ministries Listed:  51
 
Regional Level Ministries Size
ABWE (Association of Baptists for World Evangelism)Large
Action International MinistriesMedium
Advancing Renewal Ministries, Inc.Medium
Anglican Frontier MissionsSmall
Assemblies of God World MissionsLarge
Association of Free Lutheran Congregations, World MissionsMedium
Awana Clubs, InternationalMedium
Baptist Bible Fellowship, InternationalMedium
Baptist International Missions, Inc. (BIMI)Medium
Baptist Mid-MissionsMedium
BCM InternationalMedium
Bible LeagueMedium
Campus Crusade for Christ, InternationalLarge
Child Evangelism FellowshipMedium
Church of God of ProphecyMedium
Church of the Nazarene World Mission DepartmentMedium
Church World ServiceMedium
Cooperative Baptist FellowshipMedium
EFCA International MissionMedium
EQUIP FoundationSmall
Evangelical Covenant ChurchMedium
Every Home for ChristMedium
Final Frontiers FoundationLarge
Free Methodist World MissionsMedium
Friends in Action, InternationalSmall
Galcom InternationalSmall
GO InternationalSmall
Go Ye FellowshipMedium
Good News ProductionsMedium
Heart of God MinistriesMedium
InterCommSmall
Josue Yrion World Evangelism and MissionsSmall
Mailbox Club InternationalSmall
Middle East MediaMedium
Open Bible ChurchesSmall
Overland MissionsSmall
Pentecostal Church of God World MissionsSmall
Scripture UnionMedium
Seventh-day Adventists General ConferenceMedium
Silent Word MinistriesSmall
Southern Baptist Convention - International Mission BoardLarge
Talking Bibles InternationalSmall
Team ExpansionMedium
Tentmakers InternationalSmall
United Methodist ChurchMedium
United Pentecostal Church Foreign MissionsMedium
United World MissionMedium
Worldwide Tentmakers, IncorporatedSmall
Young LifeMedium
Youth with a MissionLarge
Ministries Listed:  50
Data Sources
 
People Selector:
South Africa – Statistics, Prayer Cards, Maps and Links
 
Statistics
Population 60,273,000
Percent Urbanization 66 %
Total People Groups 65
Unreached People Groups 8
Region Africa, East and Southern
10/40 Window No
Official National Language English
Secondary National LanguageAfrikaans
Primary Religion Christianity
Percent Professing Christian 77.1%  [1]
Percent Evangelical 21.0%  [2]
Country Progress Level 5
Persecution Ranking Not ranked (1=High to 50=Low OD)
Human Development Index 0.666 (0=Low to 1=High UN)

Links
Operation World
Ethnologue Language Listing
State Department Religious Freedom Report
World Factbook

Notes
[1]  Calculated by summing the major religion data for the people groups in the country.
[2]  Calculated by summing the Evangelical data for the people groups in the country.
 
Prayer Cards
All
Unreached
Maps
Political Map (UN)
Language Map (Ethnologue)
Ethnolinguistic Map (Univ of Texas)
Perry-Castaneda Map Collection
 
Prayercast Video

More great prayer resources at Prayercast

Direct link:  http://legacy.joshuaproject.net/countries.php?rog3=SF