Joshua Project Update: More Accurate People Group Data
Discover the new criteria shaping the refreshed people group list for 2025 missions.
Why Did the Count Drop from 17,700 to 16,300? Did 1,400 People Groups Just Disappear
No, they didn’t disappear. Joshua Project refined how we count to make the data more practical for actual ministry work.
Here’s what happened: we’re now focusing the main list on groups you can realistically identify and reach. The groups being moved off the visible list are mostly tiny diaspora populations that are nearly impossible to locate or engage directly.
Think about it: does it make sense to count 540 Mexicans scattered across Finland as a separate people group that needs its own specific outreach strategy? In almost every case, the best way to reach these very small diaspora communities is through the larger, more accessible populations of the same people group in their home countries or major population centers.
We’re only moving groups to a separate small group list if all three of these conditions are met:
Under 5,000 people in that country
Less than 0.25% of that group’s worldwide population
Less than 0.25% of the country’s total population
Important exception: isolated non-diaspora groups like the Sentinelese of India, Amazon basin peoples, or Australian Aboriginal groups always stay on the main list because they represent the entire people group, not a scattered subset.
This refinement makes the list more useful for churches, mission teams, and researchers who need to know where to focus their efforts. The underlying data for all groups remains available if you need it.
Our vision hasn’t changed at all. Every people group still matters. We’re just making it clearer where strategic engagement is actually possible. This helps turn good intentions into effective action.
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