Balti in India


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge
* Data can be from various sources including official census, agencies, and local research. Data from these sources can sometimes differ even by orders of magnitude. Joshua Project attempts to present a conservative, balanced estimate.

Introduction / History

The Balti are a scheduled tribe and live in the Kargil region of Jammu and Kashmir. They speak Balti as their main language.


What Are Their Lives Like?

They work in agriculture and as laborers. Their Islamic clergy settle their disputes. They live very close to the India-Pakistani border where life is dangerous. Most of the young men find education and work elsewhere, but the women and children are stuck there. Typically people live each day as it comes since each day might easily be their last!


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Balti are Shia Muslims who have a connection with Buddhism. Such a religious mix does not endear them to the Sunni Muslims in other parts of Kashmir and Pakistan.


What Are Their Needs?

The Balti people need safety and economic opportunities.


Prayer Points

Pray that the clergy come to Jesus Christ and lead others to Him. Pray that God will give them dreams and visions leading them to salvation.


Scripture Prayers for the Balti in India.


Profile Source:   Keith Carey  

The Balti

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Balti
People Name in Country Balti
Pronunciation BALL-tee
Alternate Names बाल्टी
Population this Country 59,000
Population all Countries 107,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
PeopleID3 16313
ROP3 Code 111443
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States on file 5
Largest States
Ladakh
55,000
Jammu and Kashmir
3,600
Uttarakhand
80
Uttar Pradesh
20
West Bengal
10
Districts Interactive map, listing and data download
Specialized Website South Asia Peoples
Country India
Region Asia, South
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 11  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Total States 5
  Ladakh 55,000
  Jammu and Kashmir 3,600
  Uttarakhand 80
  Uttar Pradesh 20
  West Bengal 10
Website South Asia Peoples
Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent *
Buddhism
2.65 %
Christianity  (Evangelical Unknown)
0.08 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.23 %
Islam
96.91 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.01 %
Unknown
0.12 %
* From latest India census data.
Current Christian values may substantially differ.
Primary Language Balti (50,000 speakers)
Language Code bft   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Ladakhi
2,500
Primary Language Balti (50,000 speakers)
Language Code bft   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Ladakhi 2,500
People Groups Speaking Balti

Primary Language:  Balti

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1903-1997)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Balti Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible and Resources in text or audio or video Internet Publishing Sevice
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Dan Bailey 
Map Source People Group data: Omid. Map geography: UNESCO / GMI. Map Design: Joshua Project.  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Keith Carey 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.


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