People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Krio, Sierra Leonean of North America


People Group Info

Total Population: 13,670

ROP3 Code: 105310
IMB Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Sub-Saharan African
People Cluster: Other Sub-Saharan African
Language: Krio - (kri)
Religion: Ethnic Religions
Country of Origin: Sierra Leone

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.
By Francis Nelson Williams

Majority Located Where

  New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY - 3,600

  Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, NJ - 2,200

  Columbus, OH - 1,700

  Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA - 1,500

  Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA - 1,250

Click here to recommend other locations where this People Group resides.

Learn More

Brief Profile

The Krio people group migrated to the United States from Sierra Leone. Traditionally, Krio people in Sierra Leone were descendants of freed African American, West Indian and Liberated African slaves who settled in the Western Area of Sierra Leone between 1787 and about 1885. Originally, it was a British colony, supported by abolitionists, under the Sierra Leone Company as a place for freedmen.

Many Krio in the United States are often have a formal education. The New York City Public School system recently recognized Krio as a "home language" allowing children to be recognized as speaking Krio.

A majority of Krio are Christians yet mix Christianity with traditional African beliefs and practices, making their primary something other than evangelical Christianity and commonly known as a ethnic religion. Nevertheless, many Krio are evangelical Christians. Christians resources are available in the Krio language.

Prayer Points

  • Pray God will strengthen Krio in their faith so that they will have boldness, sensitivity, and passion to share the message of Christ.
  • Pray God will call out Krio Christians to obey the Great Commission by going and making disciples among all nations.


Learning Resources

Learn more about "Learning Paths"
Online Courses for embracing, encountering and engaging diaspora people. Work at your own pace. Begin anytime and complete the course according to your schedule. Interactive, Hands-On Application.

Learn more about "Reaching the Nations"
This book delineates five disciplines Christians should develop in order to effectively reach the nations. More specifically, it will guide Christians to develop an engagement strategy in their locale.

World Religions - Beliefs Overview
An overview of major world religions and cults - their beliefs and practices.


Other Resources

Prayer Guide for Unreached Peoples
A 30 day guide to pray for unreached people groups.

Online Talking Bible - Krio
The purpose of Talking Bibles is to give non-readers and the blind access to the Bible in their native language.

Prayer Guide using the GOSPELS acronym
A prayer guide that utilizes the acronym GOSPELS to pray for workers among diaspora.

Displaying 1-9 of 9 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
CanadaTorontoToronto (Mississauga, Brampton)ON555
United StatesLouisvilleLouisville/Jefferson CountyKY85
United StatesJefferson CityJefferson CityMO40
United StatesGrand PrairieDallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonTX920
United StatesColumbusColumbusOH1,700
United StatesCamdenPhiladelphia-Camden-WilmingtonNJ2,200
United StatesBrooklynNew York-Newark-Jersey CityNY3,600
United StatesBostonBoston-Cambridge-QuincyMA1,250
United StatesAtlantaAtlanta-Sandy Springs-RoswellGA1,500