• Religion:  

Religion: Buddhism What is Primary Religion?

Population of Adherents

505,098,000

% of World Population

6.4 %

People Groups

687

Unreached Groups

539 (78.5 %)

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 *
Phu Thai United States 56,000 Phu Thai Buddhism ● 1.00 % 0.10 % Translation Started 1
Thai, Isan Norway 18,000 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 0.80 % 0.10 % New Testament 1
Thai, Isan New Zealand 8,500 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 0.80 % 0.10 % New Testament 1
Thai, Isan United States 85,000 Thai, Northeastern Buddhism ● 2.00 % 0.10 % New Testament 2
Choni China 172,000 Choni Buddhism ● 0.20 % 0.10 % Unspecified 3
Tai Lue Laos 131,000 Lu Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.10 % New Testament 3
Tai Lue Thailand 92,000 Lu Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.10 % New Testament 2
Mongol, Khalka Czechia 2,500 Mongolian, Halh Buddhism ● 0.20 % 0.10 % Complete Bible 1
Tibetan, Shangri La China 105,000 Tibetan, Khams Buddhism ● 3.50 % 0.10 % New Testament 2
Kuan, Khuen China 1,700 Khuen Buddhism ● 0.11 % 0.10 % Translation Needed 1
Khuen United States 2,800 Khuen Buddhism ● 2.00 % 0.10 % Translation Needed 1
Tseku China 15,000 Tseku Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.10 % Translation Needed 1
Tai Nua, Chinese Shan Myanmar (Burma) 103,000 Tai Nua Buddhism ● 0.11 % 0.11 % Bible Portions 2
Palaung, Shwe Myanmar (Burma) 234,000 Palaung, Shwe Buddhism ● 0.20 % 0.12 % Translation Started 5
De'ang, Pale China 11,000 Palaung, Ruching Buddhism ● 0.12 % 0.12 % New Testament 1
Tai Khun Thailand 7,000 Khun Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.14 % Bible Portions 1
Thai Cambodia 3,400 Thai Buddhism ● 0.60 % 0.15 % Complete Bible 1
Kalmyk-Oirat, Western Mongol Russia 187,000 Kalmyk-Oirat Buddhism ● 0.16 % 0.16 % New Testament 4
Samtao Laos 3,500 Samtao Buddhism ● 0.17 % 0.17 % Translation Needed 1
Burmese Malaysia 30,000 Burmese Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.17 % Complete Bible 1
Vietnamese Cambodia 827,000 Vietnamese Buddhism ● 3.00 % 0.17 % Complete Bible 17
Tai Nua, Chinese Shan China 496,000 Tai Nua Buddhism ● 0.19 % 0.17 % Bible Portions 10
Tai Nua, Chinese Shan Vietnam 109,000 Tai Nua Buddhism ● 0.19 % 0.17 % Bible Portions 2
Burmese New Zealand 2,300 Burmese Buddhism ● 0.60 % 0.20 % Complete Bible 1
Burakumin Japan 884,000 Japanese Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.20 % Complete Bible 18
Totals: 687 Peoples   505,098,000     539 ●       5,929
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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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