The Copala Triqui of Mexico

The Copala Triqui of Mexico, numbering approximately 33,500 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are an Oto-Manguean people of San Juan Copala in western Oaxaca, Mexico, whose language split from Mixtec roughly 3,500 years ago and whose mountain isolation during Spanish colonization preserved their autonomous social organization. They mostly adhere to Animism and Copala Triqui is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Triqui, Copala

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Latin American and Caribbean Peoples
Country: Mexico
People Cluster: Mixtec
Primary Language(s): Copala Triqui (trc)
Primary Religion(s): Animism
Population: 33,500
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG039162
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Copala Triqui of Mexico

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: Animism
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

85%
%
Animism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Copala Triqui
Language Family: Otomanguean

86%
%
Triqui, Copala Speakers

Media Resources in Copala Triqui:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Copala Triqui:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
1987 Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc.✓✓

1 entry

Or check out the Copala Triqui bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Copala Triqui 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.

Next steps for the Copala Triqui:
Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Copala Triqui of Mexico

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.

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.
readPsalm 57:10

Pray that God will work, even in the hearts of hard-to-reach people, and that they will rejoice in His steadfast love and faithfulness.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
readPsalm 27:1

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, God will strengthen them when they face persecution of any kind for Jesus' name’s sake.

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
read2 Corinthians 1:11

Pray that many people will join in praying for the spread of the gospel here, and that God will answer these prayers by drawing more people to Himself.

Trique, Copala Across Countries (ROP3 - 108607) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

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

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