Burmese in Laos


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Burmese are believed to have originated in China, and made their way into today's Myanmar in the ninth century AD. They quickly established themselves as the major power in the fertile Irrawaddy River Valley.

The name of Burma was changed to Myanmar in 1988 by the military government. They claim Burma was mistakenly named by the British. Ma means 'the land of' in Burmese, therefore Burma meant 'the land of the Burs'. The majority population of the nation, however, call themselves Myen, therefore the nation was renamed Myanmar ('the land of the Myan/Myen'). For the sake of clarity, we will call them the Burmese.

Most Burmese live in Myanmar. Others are found in Malaysia, Thailand, the United States, Singapore, Laos, and other nations around the world. They have come across the border from Myanmar in recent decades as traders and merchants. A number have settled down in the Sing and Long districts of Laos' Luang Namtha Province. Others live in the cities of Vientiane, Xaignabouri, and in the Houayxay District of Bokeo Province.


What Are Their Lives Like?

In Myanmar, the Burmese are the majority people. In Laos, they are a small minority. Most likely they either make their living through farming or through trade.


What Are Their Beliefs?

The Burmese are one of the strongest Theravada Buddhist peoples in the world. They have the conviction that they preserve the true faith. In Theravada Buddhist societies monks embody Buddhist principles, the dhamma. Their withdrawal from the mundane world into the vat where they dress differently, follow a different daily regime from the rest of society, are subject to elaborate codes of conduct, including codes of avoidance, especially of women who tempt them back into the mundane world. All of these rules demarcate the sacred space within which they move.


What Are Their Needs?

The Burmese are one of the largest unreached people groups in the world. In Myanmar they are surrounded by many Christian tribes, yet most Burmese have refused to consider the truths of the gospel, especially from tribal people who they consider much inferior to themselves. They believe "To be Burmese is to be Buddhist."


Prayer Points

Pray for faithful intercessors and missionaries to go to the Burmese in Laos.

Pray God would have mercy on the Burmese people.

Pray He would humble their hearts to consider the gospel.

Ask God to save the small number of Burmese in Laos.

Pray for heavenly strategies to win the Buddhist Burmese people of Myanmar and Laos.


Scripture Prayers for the Burmese in Laos.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Burmese
People Name in Country Burmese
Pronunciation bur-MEEZE
Alternate Names Bama; Bamar; Bamas; Burman; Man; Myan; Myan, Myen; Myanmas; Myen; Yaw; बर्मीज़
Population this Country 5,300
Population all Countries 31,960,000
Total Countries 18
Indigenous No
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 1
People ID 11029
ROP3 Code 101776
ROP25 Code 301501
ROP25 Name Burmese (Bhama)
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Luang Namtha, Xiagnabouri, Bokeo provinces, Vientiane City.   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999
Country Laos
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
Persecution Rank 21  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Luang Namtha, Xiagnabouri, Bokeo provinces, Vientiane City..   Source:  Faces of the Unreached in Laos, 1999

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Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
90.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.00 %
Ethnic Religions
10.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Burmese (5,300 speakers)
Language Code mya   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Burmese (5,300 speakers)
Language Code mya   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Burmese

Primary Language:  Burmese

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1815-1985)
Bible-New Testament Yes  (1832-1987)
Bible-Complete Yes  (1835-2021)
FCBH NT (www.bible.is) Online
YouVersion NT (www.bible.com) Online
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
Audio Recordings Story of Jesus audio Jesus Film Project
Film / Video God's Story video God's Story
Film / Video Indigitube.tv Video / Animation Create International
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Burmese Jesus Film Project
Film / Video LUMO film of Gospels Bible Media Group/LUMO
Film / Video Magdalena video Jesus Film Project
Film / Video My Last Day video, anime Jesus Film Project
Film / Video Story of Jesus for Children Jesus Film Project
Film / Video The Hope Video Mars Hill Media
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Biblical answers to your questions Got Questions Ministry
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Faith Comes By Hearing - Bible in text or audio or video Faith Comes by Hearing
General Four Spiritual Laws Campus Crusade for Christ
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
General YouVersion Bible versions in text and/or audio YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Android Bible app: Burmese YouVersion Bibles
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App Download audio Bible app as APK file Faith Comes by Hearing
Mobile App iOS Bible app: Burmese YouVersion Bibles
Text / Printed Matter Bible: Comic Book Version Super Bible / Comic Bible Society
Text / Printed Matter Literacy primer for Burmese Literacy & Evangelism International
Text / Printed Matter Love letter to you from scripture Father's Love Letter
Photo Source Anonymous 
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.



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