Expanded PDF Profile

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.

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.

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.

Scripture Prayers for the Rakhine in Myanmar (Burma).