• Religion:  

Religion: Buddhism What is Primary Religion?

Population of Adherents

505,356,000

% of World Population

6.4 %

People Groups

680

Unreached Groups

531 (78.1 %)

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 * ▲
Batgama Sri Lanka 380,000 Sinhala Buddhism ● 1.48 % Complete Bible 8
Dawei, Tavoyan Myanmar (Burma) 460,000 Tavoyan Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.04 % Unspecified 9
Phu Thai Thailand 492,000 Phu Thai Buddhism ● 0.60 % 0.10 % Translation Started 10
Tai Nua, Chinese Shan China 496,000 Tai Nua Buddhism ● 0.19 % 0.17 % Bible Portions 10
Amdo, Hbrogpa China 753,000 Tibetan, Amdo Buddhism ☀ 0.05 % 0.05 % Bible Portions 15
Tibetan Gtsang China 768,000 Tibetan, Central Buddhism ☀ 0.02 % 0.01 % Complete Bible 15
Tai Lue China 814,000 Lu Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.33 % New Testament 16
Pa-O Myanmar (Burma) 870,000 Pa'o Buddhism ● 1.70 % 0.30 % New Testament 17
Japanese United States 844,000 Japanese Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.50 % Complete Bible 17
Vietnamese Cambodia 827,000 Vietnamese Buddhism ● 3.00 % 0.17 % Complete Bible 17
Burakumin Japan 884,000 Japanese Buddhism ● 0.50 % 0.20 % Complete Bible 18
Tibetan, Central China 952,000 Tibetan, Central Buddhism ☀ 0.04 % 0.03 % Complete Bible 19
Han Chinese, Mandarin Myanmar (Burma) 986,000 Chinese, Mandarin Buddhism ● 2.00 % 1.40 % Complete Bible 20
Mon Myanmar (Burma) 1,151,000 Mon Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.82 % Complete Bible 23
Khmer Vietnam 1,331,000 Khmer Buddhism ● 3.00 % 1.87 % Complete Bible 27
Khmer, Northern Thailand 1,461,000 Khmer, Northern Buddhism ● 2.00 % 1.33 % Complete Bible 29
Khampa Eastern China 1,618,000 Tibetan, Khams Buddhism ☀ 0.05 % 0.01 % New Testament 32
Mongol, Khalka Mongolia 2,333,000 Mongolian, Halh Buddhism ● 1.50 % 0.86 % Complete Bible 47
Rakhine Myanmar (Burma) 2,718,000 Rakhine Buddhism ☀ 0.10 % 0.05 % Bible Portions 54
Lao Laos 3,446,000 Lao Buddhism ● 3.50 % 2.00 % Complete Bible 69
Tai Man, Shan Myanmar (Burma) 4,556,000 Shan Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.82 % Complete Bible 91
Thai, Southern Thailand 5,211,000 Thai, Southern Buddhism ● 0.90 % 0.25 % Bible Portions 104
Mongol China 5,655,000 Mongolian, Peripheral Buddhism ☀ 0.04 % 0.02 % Complete Bible 113
Thai, Northern Thailand 7,577,000 Thai, Northern Buddhism ● 0.40 % 0.27 % New Testament 152
Mahar (Hindu traditions) India 9,548,000 Marathi Buddhism ● 0.13 % Complete Bible 191
Totals: 680 Peoples   505,356,000     531 ●       5,918
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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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