The Sema Naga of India

The Sema Naga of India, numbering approximately 372,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a dominant Naga group of Zunheboto in Nagaland who call themselves Semi after their ancestor Sumi. Slash-and-burn cultivation remains primary, supplemented by weaving and smithy, and many have embraced Christianity. They mostly adhere to Protestantism and Sumi Naga is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Naga, Sema

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Country: India
People Cluster: Tangsa Naga
Primary Language(s): Sumi Naga (nsm)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 372,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 10% or Greater Evangelical
People Group ID: PG041651
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Sema Naga of India

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: Protestantism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

99%
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Sumi Naga
Language Family: Sino-Tibetan

100%
%
Naga, Sumi Speakers

Media Resources in Sumi Naga:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Sumi Naga:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
Common Language Version✓

1 entry

Or check out the Sumi Naga bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Sema Naga 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 Sema Naga:
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 Sema Naga of India

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
readJohn 14:6

Pray that those who don't know Jesus will recognize Him as the only way to the Father and follow Him in faith.

There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard.
readPsalm 19:3

Pray that God will lead them to His Word, and where it is not available, ask that He will raise up those who will produce gospel media in their heart language.

Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.
readJames 1:12

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will be encouraged when they persevere under trial, knowing that when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life.

I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessing.
read1 Corinthians 9:23

Ask God to give believers a deep desire to share the gospel with those who don't know the truth about God's redemption plan, and to provide them with opportunities to do so cross-culturally.

Naga, Sema Across Countries (ROP3 - 113571) 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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