• 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 *
Bai, Southern China 443,000 Bai, Southern Buddhism ● 2.80 % 2.80 % Bible Portions -
Okinawan, Ryukyuan Bolivia 2,400 Okinawan, Central Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.10 % Bible Portions 1
Chaungtha Myanmar (Burma) 184,000 Rakhine Buddhism ● 0.10 % 0.07 % Bible Portions 4
Tai Khun Myanmar (Burma) 130,000 Khun Buddhism ● 2.30 % 1.90 % Bible Portions 3
Tai Khun Laos 800 Khun Buddhism ● 4.00 % 2.00 % Bible Portions 1
Tai Khun Thailand 7,000 Khun Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.14 % Bible Portions 1
Bumthangpa Bhutan 22,000 Bumthangkha Buddhism ● 0.59 % Bible Portions 1
Lao Song Thailand 36,000 Thai Song Buddhism ● 1.00 % 0.90 % Bible Portions 1
Loba Bhutan 2,200 Lhowa Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Bible Portions 1
Loba Nepal 2,600 Lhowa Buddhism ● 0.19 % Bible Portions 1
Rakhine Myanmar (Burma) 2,699,000 Rakhine Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.05 % Bible Portions 54
Mon Pakistan 1,300 Balti Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Bible Portions 1
Nyahkur Thailand 1,600 Nyahkur Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Bible Portions 1
Palaung, Rumai Myanmar (Burma) 159,000 Palaung, Rumai Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.20 % Bible Portions 3
So Laos 86,000 So Buddhism ● 1.40 % 1.00 % Bible Portions 2
So Thailand 73,000 So Buddhism ● 1.00 % 0.50 % Bible Portions 1
Thai, Southern Malaysia 4,100 Thai, Southern Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Bible Portions 1
Thai, Southern Thailand 5,099,000 Thai, Southern Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.25 % Bible Portions 102
Tai Nua, Chinese Shan Myanmar (Burma) 103,000 Tai Nua Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.35 % Bible Portions 2
Tai Nua, Chinese Shan China 494,000 Tai Nua Buddhism ● 0.19 % 0.17 % Bible Portions 10
Tai Nua, Chinese Shan Laos 14,000 Tai Nua Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Bible Portions 1
Tai Nua, Chinese Shan Vietnam 108,000 Tai Nua Buddhism ● 0.19 % 0.17 % Bible Portions 2
Bru, Western Laos 86,000 Bru, Western Buddhism ● 12.00 % 8.00 % Bible Portions -
Bru, Western Thailand 24,000 Bru, Western Buddhism ● 8.00 % 6.00 % Bible Portions -
Tibetan Pakistan 6,600 Balti Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Bible Portions 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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