• Religion:  

Religion: Buddhism What is Primary Religion?

Population of Adherents

497,898,000

% of World Population

6.5 %

People Groups

668

Unreached Groups

525 (78.6 %)

Map Notes
Click column headings for sorting ▲▼
Progress Scale: ●●●●●
Photo People Group Country Population Primary Language Primary Religion Progress
Scale 		Scripture
Status 		% Christian
Adherent 		%
Evangelical 		Est. Workers
Needed * ▼
Japanese Japan 121,296,000 Japanese Buddhism ● Complete Bible 1.20 % 0.30 % 2,426
Burmese Myanmar (Burma) 31,315,000 Burmese Buddhism ● Complete Bible 0.35 % 0.08 % 626
Thai, Central Thailand 19,836,000 Thai Buddhism ● Complete Bible 0.30 % 0.27 % 397
Thai, Isan Thailand 18,129,000 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● New Testament 0.40 % 0.27 % 363
Khmer Cambodia 14,438,000 Khmer Buddhism ● Complete Bible 3.20 % 1.90 % 289
Mongol China 7,556,000 Mongolian, Peripheral Buddhism ● New Testament 0.80 % 0.40 % 151
Thai, Northern Thailand 7,309,000 Thai, Northern Buddhism ● New Testament 0.40 % 0.27 % 146
Thai, Southern Thailand 5,063,000 Thai, Southern Buddhism ● Bible Portions 0.90 % 0.25 % 101
Tai Man, Shan Myanmar (Burma) 4,517,000 Shan Buddhism ● Complete Bible 0.90 % 0.82 % 90
Lao Laos 3,300,000 Lao Buddhism ● Complete Bible 3.50 % 2.00 % 66
Rakhine Myanmar (Burma) 2,695,000 Rakhine Buddhism ● Bible Portions 0.10 % 0.05 % 54
Khampa Eastern China 1,591,000 Tibetan, Khams Buddhism ● Bible Portions 0.05 % 0.01 % 32
Tamang Nepal 1,505,000 Tamang, Eastern Buddhism ● New Testament 5.00 % 30
Khmer, Northern Thailand 1,448,000 Khmer, Northern Buddhism ● Complete Bible 2.00 % 1.33 % 29
Khmer Vietnam 1,315,000 Khmer Buddhism ● Complete Bible 3.00 % 1.87 % 26
Mon Myanmar (Burma) 1,141,000 Mon Buddhism ● Complete Bible 0.90 % 0.82 % 23
Han Chinese, Mandarin Myanmar (Burma) 978,000 Chinese, Mandarin Buddhism ● Complete Bible 2.00 % 1.40 % 20
Tibetan, Central China 936,000 Tibetan, Central Buddhism ● Complete Bible 0.04 % 0.03 % 19
Nau Buddh India 973,000 Marathi Buddhism ● Complete Bible 0.33 % 19
Burakumin Japan 890,000 Japanese Buddhism ● Complete Bible 0.50 % 0.20 % 18
Pa-O Myanmar (Burma) 844,000 Pa'o Buddhism ● New Testament 1.70 % 0.30 % 17
Japanese United States 835,000 Japanese Buddhism ● Complete Bible 1.50 % 0.50 % 17
Vietnamese Cambodia 814,000 Vietnamese Buddhism ● Complete Bible 3.00 % 0.17 % 16
Tai Lue China 801,000 Lu Buddhism ● New Testament 0.50 % 0.33 % 16
Amdo, Hbrogpa China 740,000 Tibetan, Amdo Buddhism ● Bible Portions 0.05 % 0.05 % 15
Totals: 668 Peoples   497,898,000     525 ●       5,717
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Disclaimers:
  1. Joshua Project data is drawn from many sources and of varying accuracy depending on source and editorial decisions. Populations are scaled to the current year. Other data may have varying ages. We welcome suggested updates.
  2. A displayed zero can mean true zero, a very small rounded number or sometimes unknown. Blanks mean an unknown value.
  3. The data is sometimes not as precise as it appears. Values for %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical (which determine unreached status) are often informed estimates, some more accurate than others. We recommend against using %Christian Adherent and %Evangelical for precise calculations.
  4. Joshua Project may be able to provide more information than what is published on this site. Please contact us.
  5. On-the-ground reality may vary from what is presented here. Before making travel plans based on data presented here, please confirm with other sources to the extent possible.
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