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People group profile · PG022382

The Northern Thai of Thailand

The Northern Thai of Thailand, numbering about 7,425,000 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an ethnolinguistic community of Thailand.

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 Northern Thai.

Pray for the Northern ThaiPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Thailand
Population
7,425,000
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Thai
Primary language
Northern Thai (nod)
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
Expanding Unreached People Group
Region
South-Eastern Asia, Asia
Location
Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Kamphaeng Phet, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phayao, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak, Uttaradit provinces

Where they live

Gospel status

The Northern 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 Northern 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

Northern Thai · Tai-Kadai family

100% speak Northern Thai

Gospel resources in Northern Thai

  • Bible available, published 2017
  • 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 Northern Thai

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

Download a prayer guide

Thai, Northern in other countries

The same people (ROP3 104960) is reported in 1 other country.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
Northern ThaiLaos44,500Unengaged and Unreached

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