The Kpelle of Liberia

The Kpelle of Liberia, numbering approximately 1,110,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Mande people of central Liberia and neighboring Guinea whose political and social life has traditionally been shaped by Poro and Sande initiation societies. They mostly adhere to Animism and Liberia Kpelle is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Kpelle

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Liberia
People Cluster: Mande
Primary Language(s): Liberia Kpelle (xpe)
Primary Religion(s): Animism
Population: 1,110,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG013507
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Kpelle of Liberia

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: Animism
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

37%
%
Animism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Liberia Kpelle
Language Family: Mande

100%
%
Kpelle, Liberia Speakers

Media Resources in Liberia Kpelle:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Liberia Kpelle:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
1967 Bible Society in Liberia✓✓

1 entry

Or check out the Liberia Kpelle bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Kpelle 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 Kpelle:
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 Kpelle of Liberia

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.
readColossians 3:5-6

Pray for God to have mercy and give those who don't yet know Him the gift of Jesus and His salvation for all who call upon His name.

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
readJohn 14:6

Pray that those who are searching for a way to God and desiring truth will encounter the good news of eternal life and accept it.

Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
readPsalm 100:3-4

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will be in awe of the Lord God, their Creator, and will give Him thanksgiving and praise.

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
readPsalm 105:1

Pray that many among them will call on the name of Jesus, develop a heart for the nations, and go to places where the gospel has not yet been received.

Kpelle, Liberia Across Countries (ROP3 - 116077) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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

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