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People group profile · PG017420

The Ryukyuan of Bolivia

The Ryukyuan of Bolivia, numbering about 2,600 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are the indigenous peoples of the Ryukyu Islands, including Okinawa, Amami, Miyako, Yaeyama, and Yonaguni.

They are a diaspora people in the Japanese people cluster of the East Asian Peoples. Their primary religion is Shinbutsu-Shugo, and they primarily speak Central Okinawan.

Pray for the RyukyuanPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Bolivia
Population
2,600
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Japanese
Primary language
Central Okinawan (ryu)
Primary religion
Shinbutsu-Shugo
Strategic Progress Index ?
Unengaged and Unreached
Evangelical
No Known Evangelicals
GSEC ?
Less than 2% Evangelical, No Recent CP Activity
Lostness priority ?
Frontier Unreached People Group
Region
South America, Americas

Where they live

Gospel status

The Ryukyuan 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 No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Ryukyuan

  • 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

Shinbutsu-Shugo · Ethnoreligion

60% adherents

Primary language

Central Okinawan · Japonic family

65% speak Central Okinawan

Gospel resources in Central Okinawan

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

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

Pray for the Ryukyuan

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

Download a prayer guide

Ryukyuan in other countries

The same people is also reported in 2 other countries.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
RyukyuanJapan950,000Engaged yet Unreached
RyukyuanUnited States14,500Engaged yet Unreached

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