India

Background: Geographically and politically India dominates south Asia and the Indian Ocean. Many nations (people groups) make up India's 900,000,000 people. Some 3,000 people groups in India speak at least 1,652 languages. Beyond the complexity of language exists different religions, varied cultures and a society divided by caste --together creating a grid of barriers to the spread of the Gospel.  Most missionaries work among tribal and outcaste groups. The Hindu core, which makes up 63% of the population, is significantly neglected by missionary workers.  People Groups based on culture and caste rather than language are the more important for understanding India's complexity. The racial, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity together with the caste system complicates any analysis of the population. Caste discrimination is forbidden by the constitution, but is socially important for over 80% of the population. There are an estimated 6,400 castes. Each functions as a separate group because of the social barriers that separate them.  India has more (and larger) people groups with no Christians, churches or workers than any other part of the world.