Mandar in Indonesia

The Mandar have only been reported in Indonesia
Population
Main Language
Largest Religion
Christian
Evangelical
Progress
Progress Gauge

Introduction

The Mandar live on low coastal plains and mountains in the province of West Sulawesi. The Mandar region consists of mountains with a large area in the middle suitable for rice fields. As a society that used to be an independent kingdom, the Mandar recognize three social classes: nobility, a middle class of commoners and a slave class. The nobility are referred to as Daeng for “royal class” and Puang for the “common class." There is a king of the Mandar, chosen by traditional leaders. The Mandar are animistic Muslims believing in the power of unseen spirits that inhabit sacred places. They often seek the services of a dukun (shaman/healer/occultist).


Ministry Obstacles

Some Scripture has been published in the Mandar language. Pray for scripture to become available to the people such that they can learn from it.


Prayer Focus

The Mandar need assistance in managing their commercial agricultural enterprises so that they can obtain maximum profit. They need help to professionally market sea products (sea turtle and cakalang fish) to obtain the highest market values. Perhaps church planters from other Indonesian people groups will come to the Mandar. Pray the Mandar would not be overlooked.
Pray the few followers of Christ among the Mandar would learn to put on the full armor of God, being protected against all that will harm their faith and their testimony.


Scripture Prayers for the Mandar in Indonesia.


Profile Source:   Joshua Project  

People Name General Mandar
People Name in Country Mandar
Pronunciation MAHN-dar
Alternate Names Mandarese; Maniar; Manjar; Napo
Population this Country 553,000
Population all Countries 553,000
Total Countries 1
Indigenous Yes
Progress Scale 1
Unreached Yes
Frontier People Group Yes
GSEC 1  (per PeopleGroups.org)
Pioneer Workers Needed 11
PeopleID3 13488
ROP3 Code 106229
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Sulawesi Barat Province, Majene, Polewali Mandar, and Mamuju regencies. Main area near Cape Mandar and Majene city; 3 coastal enclaves north of Majene city; northernmost point of province, coastal area between Parangkayu and Simajo towns. Also, south Sulawesi Province, Pangkep regency, Pabbring islands near Makassar city, other areas.   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Country Indonesia
Region Asia, Southeast
Continent Asia
10/40 Window Yes
National Bible Society Website
Persecution Rank Not ranked
Location in Country Sulawesi Barat Province, Majene, Polewali Mandar, and Mamuju regencies. Main area near Cape Mandar and Majene city; 3 coastal enclaves north of Majene city; northernmost point of province, coastal area between Parangkayu and Simajo towns. Also, south Sulawesi Province, Pangkep regency, Pabbring islands near Makassar city, other areas..   Source:  Ethnologue 2016
Map of Mandar in Indonesia
Ethnolinguistic map or other map

Primary Religion: Islam
Major Religion Percent
Buddhism
0.00 %
Christianity  (Evangelical 0.00 %)
0.07 %
Ethnic Religions
0.00 %
Hinduism
0.00 %
Islam
99.93 %
Non-Religious
0.00 %
Other / Small
0.00 %
Unknown
0.00 %
Primary Language Mandar (553,000 speakers)
Language Code mdr   Ethnologue Listing
Language Written Yes   ScriptSource Listing
Total Languages 1
Primary Language Mandar (553,000 speakers)
Language Code mdr   Ethnologue Listing
Total Languages 1
People Groups Speaking Mandar

Primary Language:  Mandar

Bible Translation Status  (Years)
Bible-Portions Yes  (2006)
Bible-New Testament No
Bible-Complete No
Possible Print Bibles
Amazon
World Bibles
Forum Bible Agencies
National Bible Societies
World Bible Finder
Virtual Storehouse
Resource Type Resource Name Source
Audio Recordings Audio Bible teaching Global Recordings Network
Film / Video Jesus Film: view in Mandar Jesus Film Project
Film / Video World Christian Videos World Christian Videos
General Scripture Earth Gospel resources links Scripture Earth
Photo Source Copyrighted © 2025  Anonymous  All rights reserved.  Used with permission
Map Source Location: IMB. Imagery: GMI, ESRI, Maxar, Earthstar Geographics, ESRI User Community. Design: Joshua Project.  
Profile Source Joshua Project 
Data Sources Data is compiled from various sources. Learn more.