The Pennsylvania Dutch of United States

The Pennsylvania Dutch of United States, numbering approximately 140,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a German-American ethnocultural population distinguished by shared ancestry, dialect, religious traditions, and a strong historical identity rooted in the rural Mid-Atlantic United States. They mostly adhere to Protestantism and Pennsylvania German is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Pennsylvania Dutch

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Eurasian Peoples
Country: United States
People Cluster: Germanic
Primary Language(s): Pennsylvania German (pdc)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 140,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG043593
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Pennsylvania Dutch of United States

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Protestantism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

88%
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Pennsylvania German
Language Family: Indo-European

100%
%
German, Pennsylvania Speakers

Media Resources in Pennsylvania German:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Pennsylvania German:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
Wycliffe Bible Translators✓

1 entry

Or check out the Pennsylvania German bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Pennsylvania Dutch are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Next steps for the Pennsylvania Dutch:
Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Pennsylvania Dutch of United States

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
readRomans 1:18

Pray that God will have mercy and open the eyes of those who don't know Jesus, so that they can turn to the One who is able to save them from their sins.

Moses said, "Please show me your glory." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy."
readExodus 33:18-19

Pray that many will come to know the glory of God, which is revealed in Jesus Christ, and that they will rejoice in the mercy He offers them.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”
readRomans 8:15

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will remember the God who has given them freedom from fear so that they will trust Him completely as their good Father who meets all their needs.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns”
readIsaiah 52:7

Pray that God will provide open doors for believers who cross cultures to share the good news of salvation with those who need it. Pray that He will give them joy as they see Him move.

Amish Across Countries (ROP3 - 107976) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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