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PEOPLE GROUP PROFILE

The Igala of Nigeria

The Igala of Nigeria, numbering approximately 1,875,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic people of the Niger-Benue confluence in central Nigeria whose identity is rooted in the historic Igala Kingdom centered at Idah and longstanding cultural and political ties across the Middle Belt. They mostly adhere to Protestantism and Igala is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Country: Nigeria
People Cluster: Yoruba
Primary Language(s): Igala (igl)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 1,875,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG013842
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Pray for the Igala of Nigeria

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: Protestantism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

78%
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Igala
Language Family: Atlantic-Congo

100%
%
Igala Speakers

Media Resources in Igala:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Igala:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
1970 Bible Society of Nigeria✓✓

1 entry

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Igala bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Igala 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 Igala:
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 Igala of Nigeria

Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
readLuke 15:7

Pray that God will convict the lost of their sin, give them an urgency to run to Him for forgiveness, and feel His welcoming arms around them when they turn to Him.

No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
readLuke 13:3

Pray that the lost will repent and believe the gospel, for without it, they will perish.

Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.
readExodus 4:12

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, God will equip them with the words and wisdom to proclaim His message effectively.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
readMatthew 28:19-20

Ask God to bring people among this group to faith in Jesus who will be obedient to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey all that Christ has commanded.

Igala Across Countries (ROP3 - 103960) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

PhotoPeople Group IDNameCountryPopulation ▼Strategic Progress IndexLanguageReligion
IgalaPG013842IgalaNigeria1,875,000No Longer UnreachedIgalaProtestantism

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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