• 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
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Progress Scale: ●●●●●   
☀
 = Frontier peoples
Photo People Group Country Population Primary Language Primary Religion Progress
Scale 		% Christian
Adherent 		%
Evangelical 		Scripture
Status 		Est. Workers
Needed *
Phu Thai Laos 223,000 Phu Thai Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.40 % Translation Started 4
Phu Thai Thailand 491,000 Phu Thai Buddhism ● 0.60 % 0.10 % Translation Started 10
Phu Thai Vietnam 250,000 Phu Thai Buddhism ● 4.50 % 2.50 % Translation Started -
Khmu, Puman China 22,000 U Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Unspecified 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 -
Palaung, Rumai Myanmar (Burma) 159,000 Palaung, Rumai Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.20 % Bible Portions 3
Saek Thailand 21,000 Saek Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Translation Needed 1
Samtao Myanmar (Burma) 11,000 Samtao Buddhism ● 7.00 % 5.40 % Translation Needed -
Sherpa China 1,200 Sherpa Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % New Testament 1
Sherpa India 39,000 Nepali Buddhism ● 15.77 % Complete Bible -
Sherpa Nepal 105,000 Sherpa Buddhism ● 4.22 % New Testament 2
Shixing China 3,600 Shuhi Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Unspecified 1
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
Amami-Oshima, Southern Japan 1,800 Amami-Oshima, Southern Buddhism ● 3.00 % 0.50 % Unspecified 1
Thai, Southern Thailand 5,099,000 Thai, Southern Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.25 % Bible Portions 102
Tai He Laos 4,100 Language unknown Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Unspecified 1
Tai Laan Laos 700 Language unknown Buddhism ☀ 0.00 % 0.00 % Unspecified 1
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
Tangchanghya Bangladesh 37,000 Tangchangya Buddhism ● 23.66 % Translation Needed -
Taungyo Myanmar (Burma) 45,000 Taungyo Buddhism ● 0.60 % 0.40 % Translation Started 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 -
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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