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

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
readMatthew 5:16

Pray that those who are deceived about what brings peace will not settle for any lies they’ve heard about God and will diligently seek Him and be satisfied when they learn the truth about who He is and what He’s done.

So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
readRomans 9:16

Pray that the merciful God who is at work in people's hearts will advance His gospel among them.

I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.
readMatthew 25:36

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will honor Jesus and find joy as they take care of those in need.

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
readPsalm 23:3

Pray for believers to go and share the gospel with others here. Ask that God will restore their souls and lead them in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.

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

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

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