People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Urdu of North America


People Group Info

Total Population: 723,168

ROP3 Code: 110423
IMB Affinity Group: South Asian Peoples
Affinity Bloc: South Asian Peoples
People Cluster: Urdu Muslim
Language: Urdu - (urd)
Religion: Islam
Country of Origin: Pakistan

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.
By COMIBAM / Sepal

Majority Located Where

  New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY - 105,236

  Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL - 57,031

  Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, VA - 42,941

  Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX - 40,847

  Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX - 23,450

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

Learn More

Brief Profile

Urdu speakers are historically associated with the Muslims of the region of Hindustan. Urdu is the national language and <i>lingua franca</i> of Pakistan, and an official language of six Indian states and one of the 22 scheduled languages in the Constitution of India. Apart from specialized vocabulary, Urdu is mutually intelligible with Standard Hindi, which is associated with the Hindu community.

Urdu speakers work in various professions – ranging from the bank sector to travel. Many have long standing roots in the United States extending into second and third generation Americans. Community and family are very important and identity is found in the group. Truth and worldview are highly influenced and determined by the elders and religious leaders.

The majority of Urdu adhere to Islam. The number of Islamic mosques being built by Urdu speakers will attest to the growing population of Urdu people in the Metro Areas.

Prayer Points

  • Pray for churches to develop intentional church planting strategies, specifically focusing on the Urdu speakers.
  • Pray for Christians that live and work among Urdu to begin loving friendships with them.
  • Pray for the Holy Spirit to begin revealing the true nature of God to Urdu in powerful ways.
  • Take a virtual prayerwalk in a community of Urdu speakers in Chicagoland, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, or Toronto.


People Group Resources

Bible.is - Urdu
The Bible easy to read edition in Urdu.

Discover Bible App - Urdu
Discovery Bible Study story sets in Urdu.

Global Recordings Network - Urdu
Audio Bible stories and resources in Urdu.

Got Questions?
Your Questions. Biblical Answers in Urdu.

IndigiTube - Urdu
A variety of quality evangelistic videos in Urdu.

Jesus Film in Urdu
The Jesus Film and other gospel resource videos in Urdu.

Jesus Film Project - Magdalena in Urdu
Mary Magdalena film in Urdu. This resource is very powerful among women.

Lumo Film in Urdu
A word for word gospel film through the four gospels in Urdu.

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

The Prophet's Story - Urdu
This video presents the gospel in the Urdu language simply and quickly through the stories of the biblical prophets.


Learning Resources

Learn more about "Any-3"
Any–3 provides biblical principles and practical steps that have equipped hundreds of Christians to witness confidently and effectively. Over the past decade, thousands of Muslims have been engaged with the gospel.

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.

Loving Muslims Small Group Study
This Loving Muslims booklet is a two-week group study that takes a deeper look at Christ’s command to "love our neighbor."

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

Overview of Islam
Overview of Islam and its sub-groupings. Developed by the North American Mission Board, SBC. Includes generalized witnessing tips.


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 1-30 of 76 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesWatervlietAlbany-Schenectady-TroyNY1,781
United StatesAmarilloAmarillo-DumasTX100
United StatesRoswellAtlanta-Sandy Springs-RoswellGA12,021
United StatesAustinAustin-Round RockTX9,336
United StatesBakersfieldBakersfieldCA218
United StatesEllicott CityBaltimore-Columbia-TowsonMD11,275
United StatesBaton RougeBaton RougeLA247
United StatesPort ArthurBeaumont-Port ArthurTX1,316
United StatesBirminghamBirmingham-HooverAL200
United StatesCambridgeBoston-Cambridge-QuincyMA6,201
United StatesNorwalkBridgeport-Stamford-NorwalkCT2,005
United StatesBuffaloBuffalo-Cheektowaga-Niagara FallsNY947
United StatesCharlotteCharlotte-Concord-GastoniaNC2,500
United StatesSkokieChicago-Naperville-ElginIL57,031
United StatesCinCincinnati-MiddletownOH1,026
United StatesRocky RiverCleveland-ElyriaOH1,085
United StatesCorpus ChristiCorpus ChristiTX150
United StatesBreckinridgeDallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonTX23,450
United StatesFairbornDaytonOH658
United StatesEnglewoodDenver-Aurora-LakewoodCO1,210
United StatesCantonDetroit-Warren-DearbornMI8,317
United StatesEl PasoEl PasoTX259
United StatesRogersFayetteville-Springdale-RogersAR220
United StatesFort SmithFort SmithAR170
United StatesGrand RapidsGrand Rapids-WyomingMI366
United StatesHigh PointGreensboro-High PointNC2,500
United StatesGreenvilleGreenvilleNC225
United StatesWindsor LocksHartford-West Hartford-East HartfordCT2,778
United StatesSugar LandHouston-The Woodlands-Sugar LandTX40,847
United StatesIndianapolisIndianapolis-Carmel-AndersonIN1,211