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People group profile · PG024941

The Central Tarahumara of Mexico

The Central Tarahumara of Mexico, numbering about 129,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a people who call themselves Raramuri, descended from the Mogollon culture, who retreated into Chihuahua's sierras and Copper Canyon when the Spanish arrived in the 1500s, never conquered by conquistadors, known for a running-based prayer tradition.

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

Pray for the Central TarahumaraPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Mexico
Population
129,000
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
Aztec
Primary language
Spanish (spa)
Primary religion
Folk Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
2% or Greater but Less than 5%
GSEC
2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
Lostness priority
Minimally Reached People Group
Region
Central America, Americas
Location
Chihuahua: Balleza north, Chinantu southeast, Cuautemoc southwest to Creel down Urique river, east up Sinforosa canyon

Where they live

Gospel status

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

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

Next steps for the Central Tarahumara

  • 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

83% 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 Central Tarahumara

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

Download a prayer guide

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