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PEOPLE GROUP PROFILE

The Kristang of Malaysia

The Kristang of Malaysia, numbering approximately 8,600 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a unique Portuguese Eurasian Creole community centered in Malacca, Malaysia, and Singapore, with diaspora communities in Perth, Australia, and other locations. and can also be known as Kristang, Cristão, Papia Kristang, Gente Kristang. They are an Indigenous people, in the Other Southeast Asian people cluster of the Southeast Asian Peoples affinity bloc. Their primary religion is Roman Catholicism. They primarily speak Malaccan Portuguese Creole.

Malaccan Creole Portuguese in Malaysia photo
Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Malaccan Creole Portuguese

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
Country: Malaysia
People Cluster: Other Southeast Asian
Primary Language(s): Malaccan Portuguese Creole (mcm)
Primary Religion(s): Roman Catholicism
Population: 8,600
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Unengaged and Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, No Active CP Activity
People Group ID: PG020133
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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Roman Catholicism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

%
Roman Catholicism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Malaccan Portuguese Creole
Language Family: Indo-European

%
Malaccan Portuguese Creole Speakers

Media Resources in Malaccan Portuguese Creole:

Films:

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Bible Resources in Malaccan Portuguese Creole:

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Or check out the Malaccan Portuguese Creole bible resources at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

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Next steps for the Kristang

The Kristang are Unengaged and Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations among which there are no known efforts focused on establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Begin signifcant prayer and fasting for this group
Send cross-cultural teams to discover and research this people group
Begin gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group

Next steps for the Kristang

The Kristang 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.

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

Next steps for the Kristang

The Kristang are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Kristang of Malaysia

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
readEphesians 5:8

Pray that those who are lost will turn from the darkness they are walking in and embrace the light, becoming children of light who bear fruit in every good work.

And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
readLuke 7:50

Pray for the good news of Jesus Christ to reach many so that they can place their faith in Him and have lasting hope.

Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.
readPsalm 34:5

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will see themselves as God sees them, with radiant faces and hearts that have been cleansed of all shame.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
readJohn 1:5

Pray that when discouraging days come, those who cross cultures for the sake of the gospel will be comforted as they remember that the light of Christ is stronger than the darkness that surrounds them.

Kristang (ROP3 - 105316) reported in the following countries:

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

Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Definitions page.

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