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People group profile · PG007392

The Black Thai of China

The Black Thai of China, numbering about 48,500 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are a Tai-Kadai-speaking ethnolinguistic group indigenous to the border area of southwest China, northwest Vietnam and northeastern Laos.

They are an indigenous people in the Tai people cluster of the Southeast Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Tai Dam.

Pray for the Black ThaiPrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Black Thai people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash: Black Thai

Fast facts

Country
China
Population
48,500
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Tai
Primary language
Tai Dam (blt)
Primary religion
Animism
Strategic Progress Index ?
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
Less than 2%
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Pioneer Unreached People Group
Region
Eastern Asia, Asia
Location
Yunnan province: Honghe Hani and Yi autonomous prefectures

Where they live

Gospel status

The Black Thai are Unengaged and Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, and there has been no reported church planting activity in the past two years. In GSEC terms, this people group is less than 2% evangelical, some evangelical resources are available, but there has been no active church planting among them within the past two years.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Black Thai

  • Pray that God would send workers to this people group
  • Begin sowing the gospel and seek out people of peace
  • Plant the first churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice

Primary religion

Animism · Ethnoreligion

100% adherents

Primary language

Tai Dam · Tai-Kadai family

100% speak Tai Dam

Gospel resources in Tai Dam

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs not available
  • Gospel recordings available
  • Audio resources available
  • Bible stories not available

Films

Bibles

Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.

Pray for the Black Thai

  1. Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
  2. Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
  3. Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
  4. 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.

Download a prayer guide

Black Thai in other countries

The same people is also reported in 5 other countries.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
Black TaiVietnam817,000Engaged yet Unreached
Black ThaiLaos65,000Engaged yet Unreached
Black TaiThailand25,000No Longer Unreached
Black TaiFrance5,000Unengaged and Unreached
Black TaiUnited States4,400Unengaged and Unreached

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