The Matpa of Bhutan

The Matpa of Bhutan, numbering approximately 32,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a people of Bhutan, east, concentrated in the lower areas of Mongar District. They mostly adhere to Tibetan Buddhism and Chocangacakha is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Matpa

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Tibetan Peoples
Country: Bhutan
People Cluster: Bhutanese
Primary Language(s): Chocangacakha (cgk)
Primary Religion(s): Tibetan Buddhism
Population: 32,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
People Group ID: PG048791
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Matpa of Bhutan

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Tibetan Buddhism
Religious Affiliation: Buddhism

99%
%
Tibetan Buddhism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Chocangacakha
Language Family: Sino-Tibetan

100%
%
Chocangacakha Speakers

Media Resources in Chocangacakha:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Chocangacakha:

No Bible resources are listed for this language.

Or check out the Chocangacakha bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Matpa are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Matpa:
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

Pray specifically for the Matpa of Bhutan

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior."
readLuke 1:46-47

Pray that those who are lost will recognize their need for a Savior and joyfully embrace the mercy that God offers.

Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know, and a nation that did not know you shall run to you, because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel, for he has glorified you.
readIsaiah 55:5

Pray that those who do not know God will access the gospel, run to Him, and discover that He is the one their souls have been longing for.

So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.
readRomans 6:11

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will lay down all evil desires, dying to sin and living for Him alone.

Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.
readLuke 10:3

Ask God to raise up and send humble believers who will depend on Him as they go out like lambs among wolves to share the good news with those who need to hear it.

Matpa Across Countries (ROP3 - 115324) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

1 people group

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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