Asia– Reaching the Unreached
Asia is the largest continent in the world and is home to about 60% of the global population. Of the 4.8 billion people living there, the majority have never heard the Gospel. At City Bibles, we want to change that. We support local churches and teams in spreading God’s Word, while at the same time strengthening the millions of Christians who already live there. We do this by providing Bibles and New Testaments, offering evangelistic materials, and giving digital access through our Bible App, available with a keychain equipped with a QR code.
India
- 92% unreached
- More than 850 million smartphone users
- Hybrid approach: print + digital via keychain with QR code
General Information about India
India is the seventh-largest country in the world by area and the most populous, with over 1.4 billion inhabitants. It borders Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The capital is New Delhi, while Mumbai (Bombay) is the largest city. India has a rich culture and an ancient civilization that has greatly influenced art, philosophy and religion throughout Asia. When it is 12:00 noon in the Netherlands (summer time), it is 3:30 PM in India (UTC +5:30).
History
India became independent from the British Empire on 15 August 1947. British India was divided into India and Pakistan, leading to mass migration and violence. Tensions with Pakistan, especially regarding the Kashmir region, have remained a major issue since the 1947 partition. Since independence, India has developed into the world’s largest democracy with a rapidly growing economy. Prominent political leaders have included Mahatma Gandhi and Indira Gandhi.
Religion
About 80% of the population is Hindu, around 15% is Muslim, and roughly 2% is Christian. Official figures mention about 8 million Christians, although the real number is likely higher. The growth of Christianity is especially visible among the Dalits (the lowest caste).
Nature and Geography
- Landscapes range from the Himalayas in the north to tropical coastlines in the south.
- Main rivers include the Ganges (sacred in Hinduism) and the Indus.
Politics and Society
- Federal parliamentary republic, with Narendra Modi as prime minister.
- More than 60% of the population is younger than 30.
- One of the fastest-growing economies in the world.
Languages
The official working languages are Hindi and English; in addition, 21 other languages have official status. City Bibles supplies Bibles in English, Hindi, Bengali and Gujarati, and New Testaments in English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Urdu and Nepali.
City Bibles Project in India
- According to the Joshua Project, only about 8% of the population is reached with the Gospel. This means that around 1.3 billion people have never heard about Jesus.
- India has more than 850 million smartphone users. We can reach these people through our hybrid approach: distributing printed Bibles and providing QR-code keychains that offer direct access to our Bible App in hundreds of languages.
Pakistan
- 98.7% unreached
- 3.5 million Christians are being persecuted
- Great demand for Bibles
General information about Pakistan
Pakistan, with over 253 million inhabitants, is the fifth most populous country in the world. It borders India, Afghanistan, Iran and China. The capital is Islamabad, while Karachi is the largest city. Pakistan was founded in 1947 during the partition of British India, originally intended as a homeland for Muslims of the Indian subcontinent. When it is 12:00 noon in the Netherlands (summer time), it is 3:00 PM in Pakistan (UTC +5).
History
Pakistan became independent from the British Empire on 14 August 1947. British India was divided into India and Pakistan, which led to mass migration and violence. In 1971, the eastern part separated and became Bangladesh. Tensions with India, especially regarding the Kashmir region, have remained a major issue since the 1947 partition.
Religion
About 96% of the population is Muslim, and Hindus make up about 2.2%. Official figures list approximately 1.3% Christians in Pakistan, but estimates vary because minorities are underrepresented in census data, some believers hide their faith out of fear of discrimination, and different sources use different methods. The real number is likely between 2 and 5 million. Christians are often treated as second-class citizens: they are expected to do the dirty work and are heavily affected by strict blasphemy laws. Still, the number of Christians is growing, despite all oppression. Pakistan ranks 8th on the Open Doors World Watch List of countries with the most severe persecution of Christians (opendoors.nl/ranglijst, 2025).
Nature and geography
- Landscapes range from the Himalayas and Karakoram in the cold north to hot, dry deserts in the south.
- The country is traversed by the Indus River, the lifeline of Pakistan.
Politics and society
- Federal parliamentary republic, with Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister.
- More than 60% of the population is younger than 30.
- The country struggles with poverty, unemployment, and limited educational opportunities.
Languages
The official languages are Urdu and English, but many other languages are spoken, including Punjabi, Pashto, Sindhi and Saraiki. City Bibles supplies Bibles in English and New Testaments in English and Urdu.
City Bibles Project in Pakistan
- According to the Joshua Project, only about 1.3% of the population is reached with the Gospel. This means that around 250 million people have never heard about Jesus.
- Pakistan has more than 116 million smartphone users, which is roughly 46% of the total population. We can reach these people through our hybrid approach: distributing printed Bibles and providing QR-code keychains that offer direct access to our Bible App in hundreds of languages.