• 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 *
Kalmyk-Oirat, Western Mongol United States 1,000 Kalmyk-Oirat Buddhism ● 1.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Kalmyk-Oirat Uzbekistan 900 Kalmyk-Oirat Buddhism ● 1.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Palaung, Pale Myanmar (Burma) 292,000 Palaung, Ruching Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.06 % New Testament 6
De'ang, Pale China 11,000 Palaung, Ruching Buddhism ● 0.12 % 0.12 % New Testament 1
Palaung, Pale Thailand 6,200 Palaung, Ruching Buddhism ● 0.20 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Karen, Kayah Eastern Myanmar (Burma) 8,900 Kayah, Eastern Buddhism ● 20.00 % 14.00 % New Testament -
Karen, Kayah Eastern Thailand 19,000 Kayah, Eastern Buddhism ● 18.00 % 4.00 % New Testament -
Sherpa Bhutan 9,800 Sherpa Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Sherpa China 1,200 Sherpa Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Sherpa Nepal 105,000 Sherpa Buddhism ● 4.22 % New Testament 2
Sherpa United States 500 Sherpa Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Gurung Ghaleg Bangladesh 900 Gurung Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Gurung Ghaleg Nepal 502,000 Gurung Buddhism ● 5.00 % New Testament -
Thai, Isan Iceland 500 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 2.00 % 0.50 % New Testament 1
Thai, Isan Laos 8,900 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Thai, Isan Norway 18,000 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 0.80 % 0.10 % New Testament 1
Thai, Isan New Zealand 8,400 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 0.80 % 0.10 % New Testament 1
Thai, Isan Thailand 18,258,000 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.27 % New Testament 365
Thai, Isan United States 85,000 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 2.00 % 0.10 % New Testament 2
Thami China 600 Thangmi Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Lahu Shi Myanmar (Burma) 64,000 Lahu Shi Buddhism ● 10.00 % 5.00 % New Testament -
Lahu Shi China 130,000 Lahu Shi Buddhism ● 10.00 % 2.00 % New Testament -
Lahu Shi Thailand 16,000 Lahu Shi Buddhism ● 20.00 % 1.80 % New Testament -
Lahu Shi United States 2,200 Lahu Shi Buddhism ● 20.00 % 0.50 % New Testament -
Tai Kaleun Laos 3,300 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
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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