The Mpi people live in just two villages in northern Thailand - Ban Dong in Phrae Province, and Ban Sakoen in Nan Province - although they say they originally came from Yunnan Province in China. The Mpi fled China 250-300 years ago and went to Laos. They were captured in a war soon after in Laos and brought to Thailand, and have lived there ever since. There are approximately 1,500 Mpi people, with perhaps only 900 of them still using the Mpi language. Ban Dong is on a plain, just outside a provincial capital while Ban Sakoen is in the mountains.
The Mpi people dress and act just like the Northern Thai people who they live among, and they speak Northern Thai fluently. The younger generations also speak Central Thai which they learn in school. In a generation or two, Mpi might no longer be spoken by anyone. There are still quite a few speakers of Mpi in Ban Dong but very few in Ban Sakoen. Even in Ban Dong, many of the children do not speak Mpi, although some still can understand it when they hear it. The Mpi are mainly rice farmers, but many also work in the city and some hold community leadership positions beyond their own village. The Mpi are all Buddhists. There is no church in either Mpi village and there are currently no Christian workers specifically focusing on the Mpi people. In effect, this means that they are grouped together with the Northern Thai as far as Christian outreach is concerned. Yet they do have a distinct identity as Mpi people.
* Scripture Prayers for the Mpi in Thailand.
Profile Source: Anonymous |
Expanded PDF Profile |
Global Prayer Digest: 2008-06-20 |
People Name General | Mpi |
People Name in Country | Mpi |
Pronunciation | Ma-pee |
Population this Country | 1,600 |
Population all Countries | 1,600 |
Total Countries | 1 |
Indigenous | Yes |
Progress Scale | 1 ● |
Unreached | Yes |
Frontier People Group | Yes |
GSEC | 1 (per PeopleGroups.org) |
Pioneer Workers Needed | 1 |
Alternate Names | Kaw; Mpi-mi |
People ID | 13845 |
ROP3 Code | 106842 |
Country | Thailand | ||
Region | Asia, Southeast | ||
Continent | Asia | ||
10/40 Window | Yes | ||
National Bible Society | Website | ||
Persecution Rank | Not ranked | ||
Location in Country | They inhabit two villages in northern Thailand, Ban Dong Village in Muang District of Phrae Province and Ban Sagern in Tha Wang Pha District of Nan Province. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Country | Thailand |
Region | Asia, Southeast |
Continent | Asia |
10/40 Window | Yes |
National Bible Society | Website |
Persecution Rank | Not ranked |
Location in Country | They inhabit two villages in northern Thailand, Ban Dong Village in Muang District of Phrae Province and Ban Sagern in Tha Wang Pha District of Nan Province.. Source: Peoples of the Buddhist World, 2004 |
Primary Language | Mpi (1,600 speakers) |
Language Code | mpz Ethnologue Listing |
Language Written | Unknown |
Total Languages | 1 |
Primary Language | Mpi (1,600 speakers) |
Language Code | mpz Ethnologue Listing |
Total Languages | 1 |
People Groups | Speaking Mpi |
Primary Language: Mpi
Bible Translation Status: Translation Needed
Resource Type ▲ | Resource Name |
---|---|
None reported |
Primary Religion: | Buddhism |
Major Religion ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Buddhism |
96.00 %
|
Christianity (Evangelical 0.00 %) |
0.00 %
|
Ethnic Religions |
4.00 %
|
Hinduism |
0.00 %
|
Islam |
0.00 %
|
Non-Religious |
0.00 %
|
Other / Small |
0.00 %
|
Unknown |
0.00 %
|
Christian Segments ▲ | Percent |
---|---|
Anglican |
Unknown
|
Independent |
Unknown
|
Orthodox |
Unknown
|
Other Christian |
Unknown
|
Protestant |
Unknown
|
Roman Catholic |
Unknown
|
Photo Source | Copyrighted © 2022 Peoples of the Buddhist World, Asia Harvest All rights reserved. Used with permission |
Map Source | Joshua Project / Global Mapping International |
Profile Source | Anonymous |
Data Sources | Data is compiled from various sources. Read more |