People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Assyrian of North America


People Group Info

Total Population: 238,220

ROP3 Code: 100574
IMB Affinity Group: North African and Middle Eastern Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Arab World
People Cluster: Assyrian / Aramaic
Language: Assyrian Neo-Aramaic - (aii)
Religion: Christianity - Other / Marginal
Country of Origin: Iraq

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.
By Ashor DeKelaita

Majority Located Where

  Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI - 121,000

  Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL - 100,000

  Toronto (Mississauga, Brampton), ON - 6,405

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

Learn More

Brief Profile

The Assyrian people are an indigenous people in the Middle East, with their homeland being Iraq, south eastern Turkey, north western Iran and north eastern Syria. Due to persecution, the majority of Assyria people are now despersed outside their homeland. Presently more Assyrians reside in Europe, North America, and Australia than in their former homelands.

Many have settled in North America. Many have acculturated into mainstream American culture. However, others have not. Estimates vary on the population of Assyrian people in North America.

They are sometimes known as Syriacs, Syrians, Arameans, or Chaldeans. Assyrian culture is largely influenced by a mixture of Christianity and traditional middle eastern beliefs. In fact, Assyrian people often cannot distinguish between what is purely cultural versus Christian. Main festivals occur during religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas.

People often greet and bid relatives farewell with a kiss on each cheek and by saying "Peace be upon you." Others are greeted with a handshake with the right hand only; according to Middle Eastern customs, the left hand is associated with evil. Similarly, shoes may not be left facing up, one may not have their feet facing anyone directly, whistling at night is thought to waken evil spirits, etc.

Prayer Points

  • Pray that God would open the hearts and minds of the Assyrian people to live a life permeated with Christ in everyday life.
  • Pray that God would show the Assyrian people of their need to rely on Him.
  • Pray that the Church in America would begin to minister among the Assyrian people.


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.


Other Resources

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

Online Talking Bible - Assyrian Neo-Aramaic
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 1-3 of 3 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesDetroitDetroit-Warren-DearbornMI121,000
United StatesEvergreen ParkChicago-Naperville-ElginIL100,000
CanadaTorontoToronto (Mississauga, Brampton)ON6,405