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PEOPLE GROUP PROFILE

The Batak Simalungun of Indonesia

The Batak Simalungun of Indonesia, numbering approximately 1,625,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are described as an ethnolinguistic community of Indonesia (Sumatra), north Sumatra, northeast of Lake Toba They are an Indigenous people, with Batak as their ethnic/kinship group and are in the Batak-Nias of Sumatra people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Protestantism. They primarily speak Batak Simalungun.

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

Fast Facts*:

Affinity Group: Malay Peoples
Country: Indonesia
People Cluster: Batak-Nias of Sumatra
Primary Language(s): Batak Simalungun (bts)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 1,625,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG022485
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Pray for the Batak Simalungun 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.

Pray Now!
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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Protestantism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

—
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Batak Simalungun
Language Family: Austronesian

100%
%
Batak Simalungun Speakers

Media Resources in Batak Simalungun:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Batak Simalungun:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
Formal Batak Simalungun Version, 2007✓✓✓

1 entry

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Batak Simalungun bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Batak Simalungun 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 Batak Simalungun:
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 Batak Simalungun of Indonesia

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
readMatthew 6:7-8

Pray that those who don't have a relationship with their Creator will come to know a God who hears their every need, freeing them from empty rituals and drawing them into a real, trusting relationship with Him.

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.
readPsalm 19:1-2

Pray that the lost will see the glory of God revealed in the heavens, that they will hear the good news, and that their hearts will be softened to respond to God’s call, turning to Him in repentance and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation.

Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
readPsalm 34:5

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will see themselves as God sees them, with radiant faces and hearts that have been cleansed of all shame.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns”
readIsaiah 52:7

Pray that God will provide open doors for believers who cross cultures to share the good news of salvation with those who need it. Pray that He will give them joy as they see Him move.

Batak Simalungun Across Countries (ROP3 - 101127) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

PhotoPeople Group IDNameCountryPopulation ▼Strategic Progress IndexLanguageReligion
Batak SimalungunPG022485Batak SimalungunIndonesia1,625,000No Longer UnreachedBatak SimalungunProtestantism

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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