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People group profile · PG024868

The Kiliwa of Mexico

The Kiliwa of Mexico, numbering about 200 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a semi-nomadic people of northern Baja California between the Cochimi and Paipai territories, first contacted by Juan Cabrillo in 1542, who rebelled against Dominican missionaries in 1840 and fled into isolation that allowed their survival.

They are an indigenous people in the Central American Indigenous people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Catholicism, and they primarily speak Spanish.

Pray for the KiliwaPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Mexico
Population
200
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
Central American Indigenous
Primary language
Spanish (spa)
Primary religion
Folk Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
5% or Greater but Less than 10%
GSEC ?
5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Moderately Reached People Group
Region
Central America, Americas
Location
Baja California: Agua Escondida, Arroyo León, La Parra southeast of Ensenada, south of the Paipai, Tipai, and Cocopa

Where they live

Gospel status

The Kiliwa are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 5% evangelical.

  • Congregations exist Yes
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Kiliwa

  • Pray for the churches among this group to grow in faithfulness and maturity
  • Equip believers to reach the unreached peoples around them
  • Send out laborers from this people to the nations

Primary religion

Folk Catholicism · Christianity

69% 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 Kiliwa

  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

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