The Pontic Greeks of Turkiye

The Pontic Greeks of Turkiye, numbering approximately 5,100 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnic Greek people whose historic homeland was Pontus, the region along the southern coast of the Black Sea in what is now northeastern Türkiye. They developed a distinct culture, dialect, and identity while remaining part of the broader Greek world. They mostly adhere to Sunni Islam and Pontic is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Pontic Greek

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Eurasian Peoples
Country: Turkiye
People Cluster: Greek
Primary Language(s): Pontic (pnt)
Primary Religion(s): Sunni Islam
Population: 5,100
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG048628
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Pontic Greeks of Turkiye

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

95%
%
Sunni Islam Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Pontic
Language Family: Indo-European

100%
%
Pontic Speakers

Media Resources in Pontic:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Pontic:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Pontic bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Pontic Greeks 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 Pontic Greeks:
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 Pontic Greeks of Turkiye

While he was coming, the demon threw him to the ground and convulsed him. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.
readLuke 9:42

Pray that those who are living outside of the hope of the gospel will know and trust that Jesus offers freedom from the oppression of sin and hope in eternal life.

So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them
readMatthew 4:24

Pray that the truth about the Lord will spread throughout the land so that many will have an opportunity to receive the good news and put their faith in Him.

Turn, O LORD, deliver my life; save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
readPsalm 6:4

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ and still struggle with the worries of this life, God will deliver them from worry for the sake of His steadfast love.

Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.
read3 John 1:2

Ask God to grant protection and good health — both physical and spiritual — to those He sends cross-culturally to share the gospel.

Pontic Across Countries (ROP3 - 108121) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

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