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People group profile · PG049294

The Ocotlan Zapotec of the United States

The Ocotlan Zapotec of the United States, numbering about 1,700 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are an Indigenous people of southern Mexico, primarily concentrated in the state of Oaxaca, with a long history of cultural continuity from pre-Columbian times to the present.

They are a diaspora people in the Zapotec people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Animism, and they primarily speak Spanish.

Pray for the Ocotlan ZapotecPrint profile

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

Fast facts

Country
United States
Population
1,700
Affinity group
American Peoples
People cluster
Zapotec
Primary language
Spanish (spa)
Primary religion
Animism
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
Northern America, Americas

Where they live

Gospel status

The Ocotlan Zapotec 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 No
  • Church planting in the last two years No Churches Planted

Next steps for the Ocotlan Zapotec

  • 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

Animism · Ethnoreligion

97% 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 Ocotlan Zapotec

  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

Ocotlan Zapotec in other countries

The same people is also reported in 1 other country.

People groupCountryPopulationStatus
Ocotlan ZapotecMexico17,500No Longer Unreached

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