People group profile · PG009510
The Bwe Karen of Myanmar
The Bwe Karen of Myanmar, numbering about 21,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic subgroup of the Karen, an ethnic group indigenous to Kayin State in southeastern Myanmar.
They are an indigenous people in the Karen people cluster of the Southeast Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Bwe Karen.

Fast facts
- Country
- Myanmar
- Population
- 21,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Karen
- Primary language
- Bwe Karen (bwe)
- Primary religion
- Animism
- Strategic Progress Index
- No Longer Unreached
- Evangelical
- 20% or Greater but Less than 30%
- GSEC
- 10% or Greater Evangelical
- Lostness priority
- Significantly Reached People Group
- Also known as
- Red Karen
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Where they live
Gospel status
The Bwe Karen 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 Bwe Karen
- 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
Animism · Ethnoreligion
74% adherents
Primary language
Bwe Karen · Sino-Tibetan family
73% speak Bwe Karen
Gospel resources in Bwe Karen
- Bible available, published 1888
- 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 Bwe Karen
- 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.
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
Karen, Bwe in other countries
The same people (ROP3 108338) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bghai Karen | Thailand | 2,100 | No Longer Unreached |
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