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People group profile · PG048642

The Oluta Popoluca of Mexico

The Oluta Popoluca of Mexico, numbering about 125 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are descendants of the ancient Olmec-Mixe-Zoque civilization in Oluta, southern Veracruz, Mexico, who took refuge in the mountains after the 1521 Spanish conquest and whose critically endangered Olutec language now has only a handful of speakers.

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

Pray for the Oluta PopolucaPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
Mexico
Population
125
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
Zapotec
Primary language
Spanish (spa)
Primary religion
Folk Catholicism
Strategic Progress Index ?
No Longer Unreached
Evangelical
10% or Greater but Less than 15%
GSEC ?
10% or Greater Evangelical
Lostness priority ?
Moderately Reached People Group
Region
Central America, Americas
Location
Veracruz: Oluta, inland, west of Texistepec, south of Acayucan, east of Sayula

Where they live

Gospel status

The Oluta Popoluca are No Longer Unreached, which means 2% or more are evangelical Christians. In GSEC terms, this people group is greater than or equal to 10% evangelical.

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

Next steps for the Oluta Popoluca

  • 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 Oluta Popoluca

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

Download a prayer guide

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