Rakhine in Myanmar (Burma)


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction / History

The Rakhine people speak a nonstandard variety of Burmese. They live throughout Rakhine State, Myanmar, mainly in the townships of Sittwe, Ponnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk Oo, Kyauk Phyu, Man Aung, Taunggup, and Thandwe. Many other minority people living in Rakhine State and nearby Paletwa Township (Chin State) can also speak Rakhine as their second language. The Rakhine people are fishermen and agriculturalists.


The devout, animistic and Buddhist traditions of this people have made them unreceptive to the gospel in the past.
What Are Their Beliefs?

Almost all of the Rakhine people are staunch Buddhists. Some outreach is being done among them by local evangelists and missionaries from other people groups within Myanmar.


What Are Their Needs?

Since the Rakhine people speak a nonstandard variety of Burmese, they would probably be able to adequately use the Burmese Bible for written literature. However, it would be beneficial to produce evangelistic materials (such as audio-visual materials, songs, tracts, etc.) in the Rakhine language.


Prayer Points

Scripture Prayers for the Rakhine in Myanmar (Burma).


Profile Source:   Anonymous  

Rakhine State

Source:  Asia Harvest      Download

People Name General Rakhine
People Name in Country Rakhine
Pronunciation ruh-KINE
Alternate Names Maga; Magh; Maghi; Mash; Mogh; Morma; Mugg; Yakan; Yakine; अरकनेसए
Population this Country 2,580,000
Population all Countries 2,600,000
Total Countries 2
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 52
People ID 13207
ROP3 Code 106013
ROP25 Code 306923
ROP25 Name Rakhine, Arakanese
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 14  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Bay of Bengal, widespread throughout Rakhine State; Bago, Shwegyin and Waw townships; some in Chin State, Paletwa township.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 14  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Bay of Bengal, widespread throughout Rakhine State; Bago, Shwegyin and Waw townships; some in Chin State, Paletwa township..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Rakhine in Myanmar (Burma) Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism
Religion Subdivision: Theravada
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
67.50 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.05 %)
0.10 %
Ethnic Religions
15.00 %
Hinduism
0.30 %
Islam
17.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.10 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Rakhine
Language Code rki   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
Burmese
Primary Language Rakhine
Language Code rki   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 2
Secondary Languages
  Burmese
People Groups Speaking Rakhine

Primary Language:  Rakhine

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (1914)
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
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 Rakhine Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Bible for Children Bible for Children
General Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Anonymous 
Map Source People Group location: IMB. Map geography: ESRI / GMI. Map design: Joshua Project.  
Video Source Asia Harvest
Profile Source Anonymous 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.