• 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 * ▼
Tibetan Gtsang China 766,000 Tibetan, Central Buddhism ☀ 0.02 % 0.01 % Complete Bible 15
Phu Thai Thailand 491,000 Phu Thai Buddhism ● 0.60 % 0.10 % Translation Started 10
Tai Nua, Chinese Shan China 494,000 Tai Nua Buddhism ● 0.19 % 0.17 % Bible Portions 10
Dawei, Tavoyan Myanmar (Burma) 457,000 Tavoyan Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.04 % Unspecified 9
Kui Thailand 421,000 Kuay Buddhism ● 2.00 % 0.41 % Complete Bible 8
Deaf Thailand 349,000 Thai Sign Language Buddhism ● 1.10 % Bible Portions 7
Batgama Sri Lanka 375,000 Sinhala Buddhism ● 1.48 % Complete Bible 7
Burmese Bangladesh 313,000 Burmese Buddhism ● 1.62 % Complete Bible 6
Palaung, Pale Myanmar (Burma) 292,000 Palaung, Ruching Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.06 % New Testament 6
Khmer Krom Cambodia 280,000 Khmer Buddhism ● 1.20 % 0.60 % Complete Bible 6
Palaung, Shwe Myanmar (Burma) 233,000 Palaung, Shwe Buddhism ● 0.20 % 0.12 % Translation Needed 5
Khmer, Cambodian United States 255,000 Khmer Buddhism ● 3.00 % 1.60 % Complete Bible 5
Kalmyk-Oirat, Western Mongol Mongolia 261,000 Kalmyk-Oirat Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.40 % New Testament 5
Tu China 262,000 Tu Buddhism ☀ 0.01 % 0.01 % Bible Portions 5
Khampa, Western China 270,000 Tibetan, Khams Buddhism ☀ 0.01 % 0.01 % New Testament 5
Deaf Japan 253,000 Japanese Sign Language Buddhism ● 1.54 % Bible Portions 5
Burmese Thailand 207,000 Burmese Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.10 % Complete Bible 4
Burmese United States 194,000 Burmese Buddhism ● 1.00 % 0.30 % Complete Bible 4
Thai United States 183,000 Thai Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.20 % Complete Bible 4
Chakma India 217,000 Chakma Buddhism ● 4.91 % New Testament 4
Chaungtha Myanmar (Burma) 184,000 Rakhine Buddhism ● 0.10 % 0.07 % Bible Portions 4
Lao United States 210,000 Lao Buddhism ● 4.00 % 0.50 % Complete Bible 4
Kalmyk, Torgut China 194,000 Kalmyk-Oirat Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 4
Kalmyk-Oirat, Western Mongol Russia 187,000 Kalmyk-Oirat Buddhism ● 0.16 % 0.16 % New Testament 4
Lao Phuan Thailand 209,000 Phuan Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.10 % Translation Needed 4
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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