People group profile · PG010835
The Thai of Thailand
The Thai of Thailand, numbering about 22,850,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnolingustic community of Thailand, Central Thai comprise about one-third of Southeast Asia's Tai-Kadai language family.
They are an indigenous people in the Thai people cluster of the Southeast Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Theravada Buddhism, and they primarily speak Thai.
Fast facts
- Country
- Thailand
- Population
- 22,850,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Thai
- Primary language
- Thai (tha)
- Primary religion
- Theravada Buddhism
- Strategic Progress Index
- Engaged yet Unreached
- Evangelical
- Less than 2%
- GSEC
- Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
- Lostness priority
- Pioneer Unreached People Group
- Region
- South-Eastern Asia, Asia
- Location
- Widespread. Ratchasima province (Khorat dialect)
Where they live
Gospel status
The Thai are Engaged yet Unreached, which means fewer than 2% are evangelical Christians, but there are sustained efforts to establish self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. 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 Thai
- Continue prayer and fasting for this group
- Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting among this group
- Begin training up local leaders to lead and develop strategies to reach their own people
Primary religion
Theravada Buddhism · Buddhism
98% adherents
Primary language
Thai · Tai-Kadai family
100% speak Thai
Gospel resources in Thai
- Bible available, published 2020
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Films
- Magdalena (Thai)
- The Savior (Thai)
Bibles
- King James Version · text
- Standard Version · video
- Standard Version Revision · audio
- Thai Standard Version · audio, text
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Thai
- Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
- Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.
- Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
- John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
Thai in other countries
The same people (ROP3 101940) is reported in 10 other countries.
| People group | Country | Population | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai | United States | 195,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Thai | Singapore | 64,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Thai | Cambodia | 47,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Thai | Myanmar | 45,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Thai | Malaysia | 34,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Thai | Australia | 30,000 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Thai | Germany | 20,500 | Engaged yet Unreached |
| Thai | Hong Kong | 13,000 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Thai | France | 10,500 | Unengaged and Unreached |
| Thai | Canada | 9,200 | Engaged yet Unreached |
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