Statistics and Facts

  • There are an estimated 5.7 billion people who are oral learners.  This includes 3 billion adults, 900 million very young children, and 450 million children between the ages of eight and fifteen; all of these have basic or below basic literacy skills.  They are oral learners because of their limited literacy skills.
  • The vast majority of missions work has been done for a literate audience.  Unfortunately the vast majority of the true audience is therefore not able to connect with the Gospel.
  • Oral cultures are very relational - they share their lives with one another.
  • Most oral cultures will communicate with one another in narratives, dialogues and dramas, proverbs, songs, chants, and poetry. When asked what he thought about a new village school headmaster, a Central African replied "Let's watch how he dances".