Download the People Group List (16 languages .csv)

Amharic - አማርኛ | Arabic - عربي
Bengali - বাংলা | Chinese (Simplified) - 中文（简体）
Chinese (Traditional) - 中文（繁體) | French - Français
German - Deutsch | Gujarati - ગુજરાતી
Hindi - हिन्दी | Indonesian - Bahasa Indonesia
Korean - 한국어 | Nepali - नेपाली
Portuguese - Português | Russian - Русский
Spanish - Español | Tagalog / Filipino
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The Newar of Nepal

The Newar of Nepal, numbering approximately 1,650,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley whose urban civilization developed through centuries of trade, craftsmanship, caste organization, and intertwined Hindu and Buddhist traditions. They mostly adhere to Hinduism and Nepal Bhasa is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash: Newar

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Tibetan Peoples
Country: Nepal
People Cluster: Other Tibeto-Burmese
Primary Language(s): Nepal Bhasa (new)
Primary Religion(s): Hinduism
Population: 1,650,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, Dispersed CP Activity
People Group ID: PG006268
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Pray for the Newar of Nepal

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.

Pray Now!
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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Hinduism
Religious Affiliation: Hinduism

84%
%
Hinduism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Nepal Bhasa
Language Family: Sino-Tibetan

60%
%
Newar Speakers

Media Resources in Nepal Bhasa:

Films:
Title Link
JESUS View Film

1 film

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Nepal Bhasa:

Bible Name (Translation) Video Audio Text
1986 Nepal Bible Society ✓
Newa Christian Literature Center ✓ ✓ ✓

2 entries

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Nepal Bhasa bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Newar are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Newar:
Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Newar of Nepal

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
readPsalm 96:5

Pray that those who are seeking after worthless idols will not be satisfied until they seek the truth and find it in Christ.

The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
readActs 17:24-25

Pray that the good news will reach everyone in this people group and that many will come to know and serve the one true God who made the world and everything in it and lives today.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
readColossians 3:1

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.

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.

Newar Across Countries (ROP3 - 107217) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index

All

2 people groups

Photo People Group ID Name Country Population ▼ Strategic Progress Index Language Religion
Newar PG006268 Newar Nepal 1,650,000 Engaged yet Unreached Nepal Bhasa Hinduism
Newar PG041726 Newar India 234,000 Engaged yet Unreached Nepali (individual language) Hinduism

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

Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Data Standards section.

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