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

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
readPsalm 19:1

Pray that those who are lost will look to the heavens and see the glory of God displayed, leading them to seek Him and know Him as their Creator and Savior.

And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
readMatthew 24:14

Pray that the gospel of God's kingdom will reach more people and that they will respond in faith, becoming disciples of Jesus Christ.

I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.
readPsalm 3:5-6

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ and experience isolation or other persecution, God will sustain them and give them confidence and rest in Him.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
readPsalm 23:6

Ask God to raise up believers who will share the hope that, for those who trust in Christ, goodness and love will follow them all the days of their lives, and they will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

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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