The Central Alaskan Yupik of United States

The Central Alaskan Yupik of United States, numbering approximately 29,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are the largest Indigenous Alaska Native people group and the largest Yupik subgroup, with a deep cultural, linguistic, and historical presence in western and southwestern Alaska. They mostly adhere to Protestantism and Central Yupik is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Yupik, Central Alaskan

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: North American Peoples
Country: United States
People Cluster: Arctic Peoples
Primary Language(s): Central Yupik (esu)
Primary Religion(s): Protestantism
Population: 29,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG043680
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Central Alaskan Yupik of United States

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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Protestantism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

—
%
Protestantism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Central Yupik
Language Family: Eskimo-Aleut

40%
%
Yupik, Central Speakers

Media Resources in Central Yupik:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Central Yupik:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Central Yupik bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Central Alaskan Yupik are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Central Alaskan Yupik:
Continue prayer and fasting for this group
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people

Pray specifically for the Central Alaskan Yupik of United States

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
readMatthew 9:36

Pray that those who have no hope and are in need of a Savior will be comforted by the Good Shepherd, who seeks to gather the lost and weary into His care.

And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
readLuke 7:50

Pray for the good news of Jesus Christ to reach many so that they can place their faith in Him and have lasting hope.

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
readJohn 10:28

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will have assurance of eternal life, knowing that no one can snatch them out of the loving hand of Jesus.

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
readPsalm 105:1

Pray that many among them will call on the name of Jesus, develop a heart for the nations, and go to places where the gospel has not yet been received.

Yupik, Central Across Countries (ROP3 - 110751) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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