Toba Batak in Indonesia


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Batak Toba are the indigenous people of the Batak highlands of the west coast of the Indonesian province of North Sumatera.


Where Are they Located?

Most of the Batak Toba live in their traditional homeland called the Bonapasogit, which consists of the Toba Samosir, Samosir, Humbang Hasundutan and North Tapanuli regencies. Some of them migrate to other areas of North Sumatera, particularly to the cities Medan, Pematangsiantar and Sibolga. Nowadays, many of them leave their traditional homeland to work/study, either within Indonesia or abroad.


What Are Their Lives Like?

Most of the Batak Toba who live in their traditional homeland are farmers. Many of those who live outside their traditional homelands are angkot (minibus) drivers, coach drivers, lorry drivers, chauffeurs, loan sharks and even street criminals. Many of the educated Batak Toba who live outside their traditional homelands are teachers, lecturers or lawyers.


What Are Their Beliefs?

Today, most of the Batak Toba are Christians, with a small number of them who already converted to Islam. Christianity in the traditional homeland of the Batak Toba people was spread by European missionaries during the late 19th centuries. Despite being Christian, many Batak people still perform pagan rituals, such as the bona taon (clan gathering).


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Batak, Toba in Indonesia.


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

People Name General Batak, Toba
People Name in Country Batak, Toba
Natural Name Toba Batak
Alternate Names Batta; Silindung Batak; Toba Batak
Population this Country 2,486,000
Population all Countries 2,487,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 5
Unreached No
Frontier People Group No
GSEC 5  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed
People ID 10723
ROP3 Code 101128
ROP25 Code 300949
ROP25 Name Batak
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Central Sumatera Utara Province, Simalungan, Asahan, Labuhan Batu Utara, Toba Samosir, Tapanuli Utara, Samosir, Humbang Hasundutan, and south Tapanuli Tengah regencies; Samosir island; east, south, and west of Lake Toba.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 42  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Central Sumatera Utara Province, Simalungan, Asahan, Labuhan Batu Utara, Toba Samosir, Tapanuli Utara, Samosir, Humbang Hasundutan, and south Tapanuli Tengah regencies; Samosir island; east, south, and west of Lake Toba..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Christianity
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 21.24 %)
97.00 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
3.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Batak Toba (2,486,000 speakers)
Language Code bbc   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Batak Toba (2,486,000 speakers)
Language Code bbc   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Batak Toba
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2024  Maulana Image - Shutterstock  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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