Buddhism people group listing

Religion: Buddhism What is Primary Religion?

Population of Adherents

501,316,000

% of World Population

6.3 %

People Groups

686

Unreached Groups

534 (77.8 %)

Map Notes

Click column headings for sorting ▲▼

Progress Scale: ●●●●●
☀
= Frontier peoples
Photo ▲	People Group	Country	Population	Primary Language	Primary Religion	Progress Scale	% Christian Adherent	% Evangelical	Scripture Status	Est. Workers Needed *
	Okinawan, Ryukyuan	Bolivia	2,500	Okinawan, Central	Buddhism	1 ●	1.50 %	0.10 %	3 Bible Portions	1
	Olot	China	3,200	Kalmyk-Oirat	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	4 New Testament	1
	Oy	Laos	25,000	Oy	Buddhism	1 ●	1.00 %	0.80 %	0 Unspecified	1
	Pa-O	Myanmar (Burma)	860,000	Pa'o	Buddhism	1 ●	1.70 %	0.30 %	4 New Testament	17
	Pa-O	Thailand	900	Pa'o	Buddhism	2 ●	25.00 %	1.00 %	4 New Testament	-1 -
	Palaung, Pale	Myanmar (Burma)	291,000	Palaung, Ruching	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.10 %	0.06 %	5 Complete Bible	6
	Palaung, Pale	Thailand	6,400	Palaung, Ruching	Buddhism	1 ●	1.00 %	0.93 %	5 Complete Bible	1
	Palaung, Rumai	Myanmar (Burma)	158,000	Palaung, Rumai	Buddhism	1 ●	0.40 %	0.20 %	3 Bible Portions	3
	Palaung, Shwe	Myanmar (Burma)	232,000	Palaung, Shwe	Buddhism	1 ●	0.20 %	0.12 %	0 Unspecified	5
	Pankhu, Panko	Bangladesh	5,800	Pangkhua	Buddhism	1 ●	3.31 %	-1	2 Translation Started	1
	Phu Thai	Laos	231,000	Phu Thai	Buddhism	1 ●	0.50 %	0.04 %	2 Translation Started	5
	Phu Thai	Thailand	504,000	Phu Thai	Buddhism	1 ●	0.60 %	0.10 %	2 Translation Started	10
	Phu Thai	United States	57,000	Phu Thai	Buddhism	1 ●	1.00 %	0.10 %	2 Translation Started	1
	Phu Thai	Vietnam	252,000	Phu Thai	Buddhism	4 ●	4.50 %	2.50 %	2 Translation Started	-1 -
	Qiang, Cimulin	China	17,000	Qiang, Northern	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.01 %	0 Unspecified	1
	Qiang, Luhua	China	24,000	Qiang, Northern	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.01 %	0 Unspecified	1
	Qiang, Mawo	China	20,000	Qiang, Northern	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.01 %	0 Unspecified	1
	Qiang, Yadu	China	39,000	Qiang, Northern	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.01 %	0.01 %	0 Unspecified	1
	Qixingmin	China	6,000	Chinese, Mandarin	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	5 Complete Bible	1
	Queyu	China	11,000	Queyu	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	0 Unspecified	1
	Rakhine	Bangladesh	19,000	Rakhine	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	3 Bible Portions	1
	Rakhine	Myanmar (Burma)	2,687,000	Rakhine	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.10 %	0.05 %	3 Bible Portions	54
	Rigzong	India	8,400	Ladakhi	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	5 Complete Bible	1
	Rigzong	Pakistan	1,700	Balti	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	3 Bible Portions	1
	Rongkup	Bhutan	3,000	Lepcha	Buddhism	0 ☀	0.00 %	0.00 %	4 New Testament	1
Totals:	686 Peoples		501,316,000			534 ●				5,943

* An estimate of the number of pioneer workers needed for initial church planting among unreached people groups by country. Estimates are calculated only for unreached people groups and are based on ratio of 1 worker-unit (single person or married couple) per 50,000 living in an unreached people group by country, or for example one team of four worker-units per 200,000 people. Some workers may already be onsite. Many more workers are needed beyond this initial estimate.

Download Data Data Sources Definitions

Prayer Cards

Prayer Guide

Level	Description	Criteria
1	Unreached - Few evangelicals and few who identify as Christians. Little, if any, history of Christianity.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians <= 5%
2	Minimally reached - Few evangelicals, but significant number who identify as Christians.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 5% and <= 50%
3	Superficially reached - Few evangelicals, but many who identify as Christians. In great need of spiritual renewal and commitment to biblical faith.	Evangelicals <= 2% Professing Christians > 50%
4	Partially reached - Evangelicals have a modest presence.	Evangelicals > 2% and <= 10%
5	Significantly reached - Evangelicals have a significant presence.	Evangelicals > 10%