People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Portuguese of United States


People Group Info

Total Population: 449,000

ROP3 Code: 108129
IMB Affinity Group: European Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Eurasian Peoples
People Cluster: Portuguese, European
Language: Portuguese - (por)
Religion: Christianity - Roman Catholic
Country of Origin: Portugal

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project. By Diogo Mendes

Majority Located Where

  Providence-Warwick, RI - 17,026

  Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA - 15,069

  Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT - 5,187

  San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA - 4,656

  San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA - 3,879

Portuguese communities in New Jersey, the New England states, and California. Hawaii has a sizable Portuguese element that goes back 150 years.

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

Learn More

Brief Profile

Portuguese diapora people are an ethnic group indigenous to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian Peninsula of Southwestern Europe. Portuguese communities can be found in many diverse regions around the globe, and a large Portuguese diaspora exists. The Portuguese diaspora communities still are very attached to their language, their culture and their national dishes and particularly the bacalhau.

The family is central to the Portuguese way of life, and takes precedence over all other relationships, including in business. Employing family members within a business is seen as the normal thing to do, as it makes sense to them to surround yourself with the people you know and trust the most. The Portuguese are also concerned with appearances and with respectability. Being smartly dressed, whatever the occasion, is seen as a mark of respectability, especially amongst the older generation.

Their predominant religion is Christianity, mainly Roman Catholicism.

Prayer Points

  • Pray that God would open the eyes of Portuguese to the truth of the Gospel.
  • Pray that evangelical Christians will rise up to reach the Portuguese.
  • Pray that evangelical Christians and Churches will encounter and reach the Portuguese in their area.
  • Pray that evangelical Portuguese will boldly share their faith in Christ in word and deed.


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

Know God in 98 Languages
A CRU resource with 9 different witnessing models (e.g. 4 Spiritual Laws, etc.) in 98 languages.

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

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

Displaying 1-27 of 27 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesEast ProvidenceProvidence-WarwickRI17,026
United StatesBostonBoston-Cambridge-QuincyMA15,069
United StatesBridgeportBridgeport-Stamford-NorwalkCT5,187
United StatesSan JoseSan Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa ClaraCA4,656
United StatesSan FranciscoSan Francisco-Oakland-HaywardCA3,879
United StatesSpringfieldSpringfieldMA3,492
United StatesWest HartfordHartford-West Hartford-East HartfordCT3,424
United StatesNaugatuckNew Haven-MilfordCT3,365
United StatesLos AngelesLos Angeles-Long Beach-AnaheimCA2,641
United StatesModestoModestoCA2,222
United StatesWorcesterWorcesterMA1,831
United StatesStocktonStockton-LodiCA1,762
United StatesDelranPhiladelphia-Camden-WilmingtonNJ1,404
United StatesSacramentoSacramento--Arden-Arcade--RosevilleCA1,380
United StatesTampaTampa-St. Petersburg-ClearwaterFL1,236
United StatesChinoRiverside-San Bernardino-OntarioCA1,158
United StatesRiversideModestoCA1,158
United StatesBethlehemAllentown-Bethlehem-EastonPA1,054
United StatesHoustonHouston-The Woodlands-Sugar LandTX840
United StatesOrlandoOrlando-Kissimmee-SanfordFL800
United StatesFresnoFresnoCA595
United StatesCape CoralCape Coral-Fort MyersFL485
United StatesAtlantaAtlanta-Sandy Springs-RoswellGA446
United StatesNorth PortNorth Port-Sarasota-BradentonFL276
United StatesBaltimoreBaltimore-Columbia-TowsonMD225
United StatesLas VegasLas Vegas-Henderson-ParadiseNV225
United StatesFlower MoundDallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonTX100