The Betawi of Indonesia

The Betawi of Indonesia, numbering approximately 5,630,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnic group native to Jakarta that emerged from the long-term mixing and acculturation of diverse peoples who settled in colonial Batavia from the 17th century onward. They mostly adhere to Sunni Islam and Betawi is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Malay Peoples
Country: Indonesia
People Cluster: Sunda-Betawi of Java
Primary Language(s): Betawi (bew)
Primary Religion(s): Sunni Islam
Population: 5,630,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG022424
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Betawi of Indonesia

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: Sunni Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

97%
%
Sunni Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Betawi
Language Family: Austronesian

76%
%
Betawi Speakers

Media Resources in Betawi:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Betawi:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Betawi bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Betawi 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 Betawi:
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 Betawi of Indonesia

For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or?rulers?or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.
readColossians 1:16

Pray for those who are lost among them, that they will come to know the One who created all things and holds all things together.

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
readLamentations 3:23-23

Pray that they will have hope in the Lord, knowing that His compassions never fails and that His mercies are new every morning.

Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
readActs 2:47

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, God will use their faith and their church community as a testimony to the watching world and grow His Church.

And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
readMark 1:17-18

Pray that God will raise up believers from this place and/or other cultures nearby to proclaim the gospel to those who desperately need to encounter it.

Betawi Across Countries (ROP3 - 101296) 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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