• Religion:  

Religion: Buddhism What is Primary Religion?

Population of Adherents

505,098,000

% of World Population

6.4 %

People Groups

687

Unreached Groups

539 (78.5 %)

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 120,474,000 Japanese Buddhism ● 1.20 % 0.30 % Complete Bible 2,409
Burmese Myanmar (Burma) 31,383,000 Burmese Buddhism ● 0.35 % 0.08 % Complete Bible 628
Thai Thailand 22,649,000 Thai Buddhism ● 0.30 % 0.27 % Complete Bible 453
Thai, Isan Thailand 18,498,000 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.27 % New Testament 370
Khmer Cambodia 14,236,000 Khmer Buddhism ● 3.20 % 1.90 % Complete Bible 285
Mahar (Hindu traditions) India 9,583,000 Marathi Buddhism ● 0.13 % Complete Bible 192
Thai, Northern Thailand 7,577,000 Thai, Northern Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.27 % New Testament 152
Mongol China 5,655,000 Mongolian, Peripheral Buddhism ☀ 0.04 % 0.02 % Complete Bible 113
Thai, Southern Thailand 5,211,000 Thai, Southern Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.25 % Bible Portions 104
Tai Man, Shan Myanmar (Burma) 4,556,000 Shan Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.82 % Complete Bible 91
Lao Laos 3,446,000 Lao Buddhism ● 3.50 % 2.00 % Complete Bible 69
Rakhine Myanmar (Burma) 2,718,000 Rakhine Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.05 % Bible Portions 54
Mongol, Khalka Mongolia 2,333,000 Mongolian, Halh Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.86 % Complete Bible 47
Khampa Eastern China 1,618,000 Tibetan, Khams Buddhism ☀ 0.05 % 0.01 % New Testament 32
Khmer, Northern Thailand 1,461,000 Khmer, Northern Buddhism ● 2.00 % 1.33 % Complete Bible 29
Khmer Vietnam 1,331,000 Khmer Buddhism ● 3.00 % 1.87 % Complete Bible 27
Mon Myanmar (Burma) 1,151,000 Mon Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.82 % Complete Bible 23
Han Chinese, Mandarin Myanmar (Burma) 986,000 Chinese, Mandarin Buddhism ● 2.00 % 1.40 % Complete Bible 20
Tibetan, Central China 952,000 Tibetan, Central Buddhism ☀ 0.04 % 0.03 % Complete Bible 19
Burakumin Japan 884,000 Japanese Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.20 % Complete Bible 18
Pa-O Myanmar (Burma) 870,000 Pa'o Buddhism ● 1.70 % 0.30 % New Testament 17
Japanese United States 844,000 Japanese Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.50 % Complete Bible 17
Vietnamese Cambodia 827,000 Vietnamese Buddhism ● 3.00 % 0.17 % Complete Bible 17
Tai Lue China 814,000 Lu Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.33 % New Testament 16
Amdo, Hbrogpa China 753,000 Tibetan, Amdo Buddhism ☀ 0.05 % 0.05 % Bible Portions 15
Totals: 687 Peoples   505,098,000     539 ●       5,929
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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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