People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Kurd, Central of United States


People Group Info

Total Population: 40,000

ROP3 Code: 101922
IMB Affinity Group: Central Asia Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Persian-Median
People Cluster: Kurd
Language: Central Kurdish - (ckb)
Religion: Islam
Country of Origin: Iraq

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project
By TheKurds.net

Majority Located Where

  Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN - 15,000

  Toronto (Mississauga, Brampton), ON - 3,195

  Vancouver (Surrey), BC - 1,350

  Montreal (Laval), QC - 1,220

  Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL - 1,000

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

Learn More

Brief Profile

The majority of Central Kurd people migrated to the United States from Iraq and Iran. Other minority population migrated from Syria and Turkey. The Nashville metro area, known as 'Little Kurdistan' by many of its Kurdish residents, is home to largest concentration of Central Kurdish people.

Kurdish people do not share a common language. The Kurdish language is officially recognized in the Iraqi constitution alongside Arabic. Kurdi or Sorani emerged as the literary expression of Kurdish language and is recognized in Iraq as the official written form of Kurdish. Within the Kurdish language there are four dialect groups; Northern Kurdish (the largest group), Central Kurdish (Sorani), Kurmanji, Laki (Southern Kurdish). The existing linguistic divisions within the Kurdish language make it difficult to generalize about what languages are being spoken by Kurds in the United States.

The majority of Central Kurd people adhere to Islam with smaller minority Central Kurd people being Atheist, Zoroastrianist or Agnostic.

Prayer Points

  • Pray Christians will intentionally frequent places where Central Kurdish people hang out in order to build an evangelistic bridge.
  • Pray God will stir the hearts and minds of Central Kurdish people to seek for truth found in Jesus Christ.
  • Take a virtual prayerwalk in the Kurdish community in Dallas-Fort Worth or Nashville.


People Group Resources

Central Asian Peoples - Short Videos
Short videos in mother tongues of the people groups in Central Asia.


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

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 1-7 of 7 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesNashvilleNashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--FranklinTN15,000
United StatesTorontoToronto (Mississauga, Brampton)ON3,195
United StatesVancouverVancouver (Surrey)BC1,350
United StatesMontréalMontreal (Laval)QC1,220
United StatesChicago Chicago-Naperville-ElginIL1,000
United StatesWeatherfordDallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonTX740
United StatesLouisvilleLouisville/Jefferson CountyKY200