People Group Profiles

“All nations will come and worship before you."

- Revelations 15:4

Yoruba of North America


People Group Info

Total Population: 26,340

ROP3 Code: 111095
IMB Affinity Group: Sub-Saharan African Peoples
Affinity Bloc: Sub-Saharan African
People Cluster: Yoruba
Language: Yoruba - (yor)
Religion: Ethnic Religions
Country of Origin: Nigeria

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project.
By Marta Schmidt

Majority Located Where

  Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX - 7,220

  Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC - 4,500

  Toronto (Mississauga, Brampton), ON - 2,025

  Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL - 2,000

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

Learn More

Brief Profile

The Yoruba people are from southwestern and north central Nigeria as well as southern and central Benin in West Africa. In Africa, they number over 40 million making them one of the largest people groups in Africa.

Originally, their language, Yoruba, was transmitted via oral traditions. Hence, stories are very much a part of their cultural practices and interactions with one another. Music and drumming play a significant role in the transmission of cultural stories and traditions.

Their colorful dress and clothing is intertwined with their culture. Moreover, it distinctly signifies their unique cultural identity as compared to other African peoples.

The majority of Yoruba in the United States are Christians or Muslims. Many also practice the principles and practices of traditional religious beliefs. Christians adhere to many different denominations. Both Christians and Muslims celebrate traditional festival more as a cultural event than a religious in order to celebrate their people's history.

Prayer Points

  • Pray for evangelical Yoruba to share Christ with Yoruba who adhere to Islam or to traditional religion.
  • Pray that God will call out Christians to minister among Yoruba Muslims and those that practice their traditional religion.


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.

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


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 1-4 of 4 results.
Country City Metro Area Name State / Prov. Baseline Population
United StatesDallasDallas-Fort Worth-ArlingtonTX7,220
United Statescharlotte Charlotte-Concord-GastoniaNC4,500
CanadaTorontoToronto (Mississauga, Brampton)ON2,025
United StatesChicagoChicago-Naperville-ElginIL2,000