People group profile · PG022380
The Southern Thai of Thailand
The Southern Thai of Thailand, numbering about 5,520,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are a Southwestern Tai people of Thailand's southern peninsula historically centered on Nakhon Si Thammarat, long tied to central Siamese kingdoms yet retaining a distinct Pak Tai dialect, mostly Buddhist with a large Muslim minority in the far south.
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 Southern Thai.
Fast facts
- Country
- Thailand
- Population
- 5,520,000
- Affinity group
- Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
- People cluster
- Thai
- Primary language
- Southern Thai (sou)
- 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
- Surat Thani, Chumphon, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Songkhla, Phatthalung, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Pattani, Yala, and Satun provinces; Muslim Thai dialect
Where they live
Gospel status
The Southern 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 Southern 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
92% adherents
Primary language
Southern Thai · Tai-Kadai family
100% speak Southern Thai
Gospel resources in Southern Thai
- Bible available, published 2000
- JESUS Film available
- Radio programs not available
- Gospel recordings available
- Audio resources available
- Bible stories not available
Find more at the JESUS Film Project, Bible.com and Faith Comes by Hearing.
Pray for the Southern Thai
- Matthew 9:37–38. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest field.
- 2 Timothy 2:2. Pray for faithful local leaders who will teach others, so that the church multiplies.
- Ephesians 5:8. Pray that those walking in darkness will turn to the light and live as children of light.
- Romans 10:14–15. Ask God to send messengers, so that people can hear, believe and call on the name of the Lord.
Know something we don't? Submit updates to IMB Global Research.