• Religion:  

Religion: Buddhism What is Primary Religion?

Population of Adherents

501,606,000

% of World Population

6.5 %

People Groups

688

Unreached Groups

539 (78.3 %)

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 * ▼
Japanese Japan 120,880,000 Japanese Buddhism ● 1.20 % 0.30 % Complete Bible 2,418
Burmese Myanmar (Burma) 31,156,000 Burmese Buddhism ● 0.35 % 0.08 % Complete Bible 623
Thai Thailand 21,256,000 Thai Buddhism ● 0.30 % 0.27 % Complete Bible 425
Thai, Isan Thailand 18,258,000 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.27 % New Testament 365
Khmer Cambodia 14,045,000 Khmer Buddhism ● 3.20 % 1.90 % Complete Bible 281
Mahar (Hindu traditions) India 9,491,000 Marathi Buddhism ● 0.13 % Complete Bible 190
Thai, Northern Thailand 7,361,000 Thai, Northern Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.27 % New Testament 147
Mongol China 5,636,000 Mongolian, Peripheral Buddhism ☀ 0.04 % 0.02 % Complete Bible 113
Thai, Southern Thailand 5,099,000 Thai, Southern Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.25 % Bible Portions 102
Tai Man, Shan Myanmar (Burma) 4,523,000 Shan Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.82 % Complete Bible 90
Lao Laos 3,398,000 Lao Buddhism ● 3.50 % 2.00 % Complete Bible 68
Rakhine Myanmar (Burma) 2,699,000 Rakhine Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.05 % Bible Portions 54
Mongol, Khalka Mongolia 2,297,000 Mongolian, Halh Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.86 % Complete Bible 46
Khampa Eastern China 1,613,000 Tibetan, Khams Buddhism ☀ 0.05 % 0.01 % New Testament 32
Khmer, Northern Thailand 1,458,000 Khmer, Northern Buddhism ● 2.00 % 1.33 % Complete Bible 29
Khmer Vietnam 1,320,000 Khmer Buddhism ● 3.00 % 1.87 % Complete Bible 26
Mon Myanmar (Burma) 1,143,000 Mon Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.82 % Complete Bible 23
Han Chinese, Mandarin Myanmar (Burma) 979,000 Chinese, Mandarin Buddhism ● 2.00 % 1.40 % Complete Bible 20
Tibetan, Central China 949,000 Tibetan, Central Buddhism ☀ 0.04 % 0.03 % Complete Bible 19
Burakumin Japan 887,000 Japanese Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.20 % Complete Bible 18
Pa-O Myanmar (Burma) 864,000 Pa'o Buddhism ● 1.70 % 0.30 % New Testament 17
Japanese United States 839,000 Japanese Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.50 % Complete Bible 17
Vietnamese Cambodia 815,000 Vietnamese Buddhism ● 3.00 % 0.17 % Complete Bible 16
Tai Lue China 811,000 Lu Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.33 % New Testament 16
Amdo, Hbrogpa China 750,000 Tibetan, Amdo Buddhism ☀ 0.05 % 0.05 % New Testament 15
Totals: 688 Peoples   501,606,000     539 ●       5,879
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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 to calculate absolute numbers.
  4. Joshua Project makes every effort to ensure that the subject in an image is in fact from the specific people group. In rare instances a representative photo may be used.
  5. Joshua Project may be able to provide more information than what is published on this site. Please contact us.
  6. 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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