People group profile · PG050524
The Akha Jipea of Laos
The Akha Jipea of Laos, numbering about 9,800 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are one of numerous Akha hill tribes that migrated from China into Southeast Asia during the early 20th century to settle in the mountains of northern Laos.
They are an indigenous people in the Hani-Akha people cluster of the Himalayan Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Buddhism, and they primarily speak Akha.

Fast facts
- Country
- Laos
- Population
- 9,800
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Hani-Akha
- Primary language
- Akha (ahk)
- Primary religion
- Folk Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Unengaged and Unreached
- Evangelical
- No Known Evangelicals
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Frontier Unreached People Group
- Also known as
- Hayi, Chipea
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Oudomxay and Phongsaly provinces: 20 villages
Where they live
Gospel status
The Akha Jipea are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. 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 Akha Jipea
- Pray that God would send workers to this people group
- Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
- Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice
Primary religion
Folk Buddhism · Buddhism
70% adherents
Primary language
Akha · Sino-Tibetan family
80% speak Akha
Gospel resources in Akha
- Bible available
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
Bibles
- 2001 Thailand Bible Society · video, audio, text
- Bibles International · text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Akha Jipea
- 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.
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