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People group profile · PG007772

The Southern Itneg of the Philippines

The Southern Itneg of the Philippines, numbering about 22,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Indigenous Itneg (Tinguian) people of Abra's southern uplands who are part of the wider Cordilleran ethnolinguistic tradition and trace their identity to communities that moved into the interior highlands of northern Luzon.

They are an indigenous people in the Filipino Tribal people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism, and they primarily speak Maeng Itneg.

Pray for the Southern ItnegPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Southern Itneg people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash: Southern Itneg

Fast facts

Country
Philippines
Population
22,500
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Filipino Tribal
Primary language
Maeng Itneg (itt)
Primary religion
Roman Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
10% or Greater but Less than 15%
GSEC
10% or Greater Evangelical
Lostness priority
Moderately Reached People Group
Region
South-Eastern Asia, Asia

Where they live

Gospel status

The Southern Itneg are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Southern Itneg

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Roman Catholicism · Christianity

64% adherents

Primary language

Maeng Itneg · Austronesian family

100% speak Maeng Itneg

Gospel resources in Maeng Itneg

  • Bible not available
  • JESUS Film not available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources not available
  • Bible stories not available

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Southern Itneg

  1. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  2. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
  3. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  4. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.

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