The 10/40 Window is a term used in the Christian missions field to refer to a specific geographic region of the world where there is significant socio-economic challenge and limited access to the Christian message.
This region is located between 10 and 40 degrees north of the equator, stretching from North Africa through the Middle East and into Asia. Many countries within the 10/40 Window are predominantly Muslim, Hindu, or Buddhist.
It is an area noted for its resistance to the Gospel message, severe poverty, and in many cases, lack of basic resources and services. The term was coined by Christian missionary strategist Luis Bush in 1990.
10/40 Window Map
How many people live in the 10/40 Window?
The 10/40 Window is home to the majority of the world’s population. As of my latest data update, it is estimated that approximately 5.33 billion people live within this region. This represents about 65% of the total global population.
What Countries Are in the 10/40 Window?
The 10/40 Window includes numerous countries stretching across three continents – Africa, Asia, and Europe.
Here is a list of the 10/40 Window countries:
Asia: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, China, Macau (China), East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, North Korea, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Taiwan, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Bank / Gaza, and Yemen.
Africa: Algeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, and Western Sahara.
Europe: Albania, Kosovo, and Turkey.
What Countries Are Closed to Christianity?
Closed countries are regions where obtaining a visa for missionaries is impossible, and church activities are often heavily regulated or restricted, often accompanied by high levels of persecution.
Despite these limitations, many Christians employ innovative methods to reach these areas, such as establishing businesses, broadcasting news, or taking up employment within the country.
Although the majority of closed and restricted countries are located within the 10/40 Window, there are exceptions like Cambodia, an open country within this region.
Here is a list of 10/40 Window countries closed to missionaries:
Asia: Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, North Korea, Oman, Pakistan, Palestinian territories, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and Yemen.
Africa: Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia.
What is Nations Outreach doing?
Our current efforts in the 10/40 Window are particularly focused on Kosovo and Pakistan, two countries with distinct challenges and opportunities for outreach.
Newborn Brew
Newborn Brew is a community center and coffee shop that’s sharing the gospel in Pristina, Kosovo.
Freeing Slaves In Pakistan
We are freeing slaves in Pakistan and helping put them on a path toward stability.
In Kosovo, there is a population of around 1,619,000 people. The predominant religion is Islam, making up about 96.2% of the population. Despite this, there is an increasing openness to the Christian faith.
Pakistan has a significant population of over 200 million people. The official language is Urdu and the literacy rate is at 59%, meaning there is a large number of the population who are illiterate. The primary religion is Islam. The country ranks 7th in terms of persecution, indicating a high level of difficulty and danger associated with Christian mission work.
Both countries present a unique set of challenges and opportunities. The goal is to continue working towards reaching the unreached with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, while respecting the cultural and religious sensitivities of these areas. We aim to offer support, care, and a message of hope to those living in these regions.
