• 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 *
Thai, Northern Thailand 7,361,000 Thai, Northern Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.27 % New Testament 147
Vietnamese Thailand 122,000 Vietnamese Buddhism ● 9.00 % 1.80 % Complete Bible -
Korean Thailand 13,000 Korean Buddhism ● 24.00 % 16.00 % Complete Bible -
Lao Thailand 60,000 Lao Buddhism ● 3.00 % 2.00 % Complete Bible 1
Lao Song Thailand 36,000 Thai Song Buddhism ● 1.00 % 0.90 % Bible Portions 1
Aheu Luang Thailand 1,600 Aheu Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Translation Needed 1
Mpi Thailand 1,600 Mpi Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Translation Needed 1
Nyahkur Thailand 1,600 Nyahkur Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Bible Portions 1
Palaung, Pale Thailand 6,200 Palaung, Ruching Buddhism ● 0.20 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Sinhalese Thailand 72,000 Sinhala Buddhism ● 2.00 % 1.00 % Complete Bible 1
Lao Phuan Thailand 209,000 Phuan Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.10 % Translation Needed 4
Phu Thai Thailand 491,000 Phu Thai Buddhism ● 0.60 % 0.10 % Translation Started 10
Karen, Kayah Eastern Thailand 19,000 Kayah, Eastern Buddhism ● 18.00 % 4.00 % New Testament -
Saek Thailand 21,000 Saek Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Translation Needed 1
So Thailand 73,000 So Buddhism ● 1.00 % 0.50 % Bible Portions 1
Thai, Southern Thailand 5,099,000 Thai, Southern Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.25 % Bible Portions 102
Bru, Western Thailand 24,000 Bru, Western Buddhism ● 8.00 % 6.00 % Bible Portions -
Lawa, Western Thailand 8,800 Lawa, Western Buddhism ● 16.00 % 2.00 % Complete Bible -
Karen, Pwo Eastern Thailand 57,000 Karen, Pwo Eastern Buddhism ● 35.00 % 4.00 % Complete Bible -
Thai, Isan Thailand 18,258,000 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.27 % New Testament 365
Ugong Thailand 500 Ugong Buddhism ● 1.40 % 0.00 % Unspecified 1
Lahu Shi Thailand 16,000 Lahu Shi Buddhism ● 20.00 % 1.80 % New Testament -
Yong Thailand 14,000 Yong Buddhism ● 0.20 % 0.20 % Unspecified 1
Yoy Thailand 7,900 Yoy Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.50 % Translation Needed 1
Tai Kaleun Thailand 8,800 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Totals: 688 Peoples   501,606,000     539 ●       5,879
Download Data Data Sources Definitions
Prayer Cards
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.
Peoples, Countries, Languages People Group
Lists Create
a List Global
Statistics Maps
 What's New

Avatar

Welcome. I’m a virtual assistant and will try to answer questions about Joshua Project, unreached people groups, the Great Commission and more. How can I help you?

For further help try our FAQ, Definitions or Contact Us pages.