Pray for India
Learn about and pray for India in just 5 minutes per week!
Receive one email per week for 13 or 26 weeks about India’s history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.
WEEK 1
Prayercast
Pray along with a local believer for their nation.
WEEK 2
Operation World
Pray through Operation World's country profile.
WEEK 3
World Watch List
Pray through the country's persecution profile.
WEEKS 4-13
People Groups
Pray for the country's 10 largest unreached people groups.
Introduction
India is the most populous country in the world and it is easily the most unreached country in the world. With over 2,100 unreached people groups and 1.3 billion people in unreached people groups, the gospel need in India is truly unparalleled.
Despite Hindu nationalism being on the rise (and Christian persecution coming along with it), there are numerous church planting movements happening throughout the country.
Poverty and inequality still exist in India, but the country has made significant strides in reducing poverty and improving the lives of its citizens. The Indian economy is growing rapidly and the nation now has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
Read on to learn how you can pray for India.
Fast Facts
Capital City: New Delhi
Population: 1.4 billion (96% unreached)
People Groups: 2,373
Unreached People Groups: 2,135
Frontier People Groups: 1,790
10/40 Window: Yes
Major People Group Affinity Blocs: South Asian Peoples 98%, Tibetan/Himalayan Peoples 1%
Religion: Hindu 79%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2%, Sikh 2%
Language Groups: Indo-Aryan 76%, Dravidian 22%
GDP Per Capita: $7,200
Literacy Rate: 72%
Did you know? India is the birthplace of four major world religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism.
Pray for the unreached people groups of India
India is the most populous nation in the world and its language groups, caste system, and history make it the most diverse nation in the world as well. Over 80% of the population is Hindu, 14% is Muslim, 2% is Christian, 1% is Buddhist, and 2% are other religions.
Below are the 10 largest unreached people groups in India:
What is the largest religion in India?
Over 80% of the population of India is Hindu, making Hinduism the largest religion in India. Islam is second, at 14% of the population.
What is the largest unreached people group in India?
Even though India is a largely Hindu nation, the largest unreached people group in India is the Shaikh, a predominantly Muslim people group with 71.6 million people.
How many unreached people groups are in India?
With 2,135 unreached people groups, India has the most unreached people groups in the world. There are 1,678 Hindu UPGs and 392 Muslim UPGs.
Pray for Christians being persecuted in India.
India is ranked #11 on the 2024 World Watch List published by Open Doors.
The main cause of persecution in recent years has been the rise of Hindutva, or Hindu nationalism, which is the belief that the only true Indians are Hindus. Persecution varies by state – some states have implemented anti-conversion laws and some see a much higher prevalence of violence against Christians.
World Watch List
You can learn about Christian persecution and pray for our brothers and sisters who being persecuted around the world by praying through the Open Doors’ World Watch List.
“[God] has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.”
How to pray for India
India is a diverse and unique South Asian country home to the most unreached people groups in the world, high levels of poverty, and intense Christian persecution.
Please pray for:
- Increasing church planting movements to take place among the 2,135 unreached people groups
- Inroads for the gospel to be made among the 1,790 frontier people groups
- Perseverance, strength and boldness for Christians facing intense persecution
“In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.“
Pray for India
Learn about and pray for India in just 5 minutes per week!
Receive one email per week for 13 weeks about India’s history, geography, persecution profile, and largest unreached people groups.
Specific prayer points are included in each email.