People group profile · PG020238
The Iranun of Malaysia
The Iranun of Malaysia, numbering about 27,500 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a seafaring Austronesian people related to the Maranao and Maguindanaon, whose ancestors migrated to Sabah from Mindanao in the 18th and 19th centuries after decades of ship-based raids on Spanish territories between 1752 and 1832.
They are an indigenous people in the Filipino, Muslim people cluster of the Malay Peoples. Their primary religion is Sunni Islam, and they primarily speak Iranun (Malaysia).
Fast facts
- Country
- Malaysia
- Population
- 27,500
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Filipino, Muslim
- Primary language
- Iranun (Malaysia) (ilm)
- Primary religion
- Sunni Islam
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Sabah: Kota Belud district, 24 villages; Kudat district, Indarasan Laut village; Lahad Datu district, Tungku
Where they live
Gospel status
The Iranun 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 Iranun
- 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
Sunni Islam · Islam
98% adherents
Primary language
Iranun (Malaysia) · Austronesian family
70% speak Iranun (Malaysia)
Gospel resources in Iranun (Malaysia)
- Bible not available
- JESUS Film not available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings not 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 Iranun
- 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.
Iranun in other countries
The same people (ROP3 103985) is reported in 1 other country.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iranun | Philippines | 587,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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