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People group profile · PG023935

The Japanese of Bolivia

The Japanese of Bolivia, numbering about 21,000 people, are Unengaged and Unreached. They are an East Asian people whose culture reflects the interaction of indigenous traditions, East Asian influences, island geography, and long historical continuity. Their Japanese language serves as one of the strongest markers of national identity.

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 Spanish.

Pray for the JapanesePrint profile

AI-generated illustration representing the Japanese people
AI-generated illustration, not a photograph. Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash Lite: Japanese

Fast facts

Country
Bolivia
Population
21,000
Affinity group
Asian Pacific Rim Peoples
People cluster
Japanese
Primary language
Spanish (spa)
Primary religion
Shinbutsu-Shugo
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
South America, Americas

Where they live

Gospel status

The Japanese 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 Japanese

  • 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

70% adherents

Primary language

Spanish · Indo-European family

100% speak Spanish

Gospel resources in Spanish

  • Bible available
  • JESUS Film available
  • Radio programs 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 Japanese

  1. Revelation 7:9. Pray for the day when people from this group stand before the throne with every nation, tribe, people and language.
  2. John 17:3. Pray that many will come to know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he has sent.
  3. Psalm 27:1. Pray that new believers will be strengthened in the face of persecution, with the Lord as their stronghold.
  4. Romans 12:4–5. Pray that believers from many cultures will work together as one body so that the church is built up.

Download a prayer guide

Japanese in other countries

The same people is also reported in 20 other countries.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
JapaneseJapan119,590,000Engaged yet Unreached
JapaneseBrazil1,745,000Engaged yet Unreached
JapaneseUnited States1,530,000Engaged yet Unreached
JapaneseChina172,000Unengaged and Unreached
JapanesePeru168,000Engaged yet Unreached
JapaneseCanada82,500Engaged yet Unreached
JapaneseAustralia57,000Engaged yet Unreached
JapaneseSingapore43,000Engaged yet Unreached
JapaneseArgentina41,000Unengaged and Unreached
JapaneseGermany25,000Unengaged and Unreached
JapaneseFrance24,500Unengaged and Unreached
JapaneseNew Zealand21,500No Longer Unreached
JapaneseMalaysia17,000No Longer Unreached
JapaneseHong Kong10,000Unengaged and Unreached
JapaneseTaiwan9,600Unengaged and Unreached
JapaneseSpain2,400Engaged yet Unreached
JapanesePanama2,300No Longer Unreached
JapaneseDominican Republic2,300Unengaged and Unreached
JapaneseMicronesia950Unengaged and Unreached
JapanesePortugal700Unengaged and Unreached

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