The Mandailing of Indonesia

The Mandailing of Indonesia, numbering approximately 1,300,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Batak people of southern North Sumatra whose identity developed through close ties with the Mandailing homeland and enduring cultural influences from both Batak and Minangkabau traditions. They mostly adhere to Sunni Islam and Batak Mandailing is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Mandailing

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Malay Peoples
Country: Indonesia
People Cluster: Batak-Nias of Sumatra
Primary Language(s): Batak Mandailing (btm)
Primary Religion(s): Sunni Islam
Population: 1,300,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG022515
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Mandailing of Indonesia

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Sunni Islam
Religious Affiliation: Islam

95%
%
Sunni Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Batak Mandailing
Language Family: Austronesian

76%
%
Batak Mandailing Speakers

Media Resources in Batak Mandailing:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Batak Mandailing:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Batak Mandailing bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Mandailing 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 Mandailing:
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 Mandailing of Indonesia

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
readMatthew 24:14

Pray that the message of hope will reach those who are wandering in darkness, offering them a path to eternal life.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
readMatthew 6:10

Pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that people will seek His kingdom and righteousness above all else, trusting in His provision.

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 as people place their faith in Christ, they will be humble and give glory to God through their good deeds.

Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven."
readMatthew 6:9b-10

Pray that God will raise up Christians who are driven by a desire to see God's name worshiped, His kingdom come, and His will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Ask Him to send them to the lost in this people group and sustain them.

Batak Mandailing Across Countries (ROP3 - 101126) 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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