People group profile · PG006180
The Bhotia of Nepal
The Bhotia of Nepal, numbering about 33,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Tibeto-Burman ethnic group indigenous to the Transhimalayan region that separates India and Nepal from Tibet.
They are an indigenous people in the Tibetan people cluster of the Tibetan Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Buddhism, and they primarily speak Dzongkha.
Fast facts
- Country
- Nepal
- Population
- 33,500
- Affinity group
- South Asian Peoples
- People cluster
- Tibetan
- Primary language
- Dzongkha (dzo)
- Primary religion
- Folk Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Expanding Unreached People Group
- Region
- Southern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bhotia are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.
- Congregations exist No
- Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted
Next steps for the Bhotia
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Folk Buddhism · Buddhism
61% adherents
Primary language
Dzongkha · Sino-Tibetan family
100% speak Dzongkha
Gospel resources in Dzongkha
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- JESUS (Dzongkha)
Bibles
- 2012 Central Asia Publisher · video, audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Bhotia
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Bhotia in other countries
The same people (ROP3 111608) is reported in 2 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bhutia | India | 257,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Sikkimese Bhotia | Bhutan | 4,600 | Unengaged and Unreached |
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