Pale Palaung in Myanmar (Burma)


Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Buddhism (Theravada)
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction

The Palaung are one of Myanmar's most ancient indigenous peoples. They have a history of more than 40 years of armed resistance to the government through the Palaung State Liberation Army. Their women are very distinct in their dress, including a bright red skirt, worn like a sarong. Like many others in Myanmar and Thailand who are nominally Buddhist, the Palaung still practice various forms of animist rituals from their religious past. The most famous such ritual is known as “nat worship.” Nats are believed to be the spirits of otherwise inanimate objects that will cause harm if not appeased.


Ministry Obstacles

Accurately communicating the gospel of Christ is always a challenge. Foreign words and foreign concepts are difficult to grasp.


Prayer Focus

Ask the Lord to provide workers who can accurately translate the gospel to the Palaung.
Ask the Lord to multiply the reception and influence of his word among the Palaung, to lead them to love him with their whole being.
Pray for them to establish peace with their government so they can raise their families in safety.
Intercede for the few followers of Jesus among the Palaung so they can faithfully fellowship together and spur each other on to love and good deeds.


Scripture Prayers for the Palaung, Pale in Myanmar (Burma).


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Palaung, Pale
People Name in Country Palaung, Pale
Natural Name Pale Palaung
Pronunciation PAH-lay pah-laaong
Alternate Names Benglong; Bonglong; Bonglung; Bulei; Darang; Deang; De'ang Pale; Manton; Nam Hsan; Ngwe; Ngwe Palaung; Palaung; Pale Palaung; Palong; PalPalay; Penglung; Silver; Silver Palaung; Southern Ta'ang; Taang
Population this Country 295,000
Population all Countries 312,000
Total Countries 3
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 6
PeopleID3 14178
ROP3 Code 109011
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Mandalay Region, Katha and Pyinoolwin townships; Shan State, Taunggyi district.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Myanmar (Burma)
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank 13  (Open Doors top 50 rank, 1 = highest persecution ranking)
Location in Country Mandalay Region, Katha and Pyinoolwin townships; Shan State, Taunggyi district..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Palaung, Pale in Myanmar (Burma)
Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Buddhism (Theravada)
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
98.80 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.06 %)
0.10 %
Ethnic Religions
0.90 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
0.00 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Palaung, Ruching (295,000 speakers)
Language Code pce   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Raojin
Dialect Code 15420   Global Recordings Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Palaung, Ruching (295,000 speakers)
Language Code pce   Ethnologue Listing
Primary Dialect Raojin
Dialect Code 15420   Global Recordings Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Palaung, Ruching
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2025  Kerry Olson  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Location: IMB. Imagery: GMI, ESRI, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, ESRI User Community. Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.