The Guaymi of Costa Rica

The Guaymi of Costa Rica, numbering approximately 4,900 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Ngabe people who migrated from Panama's Ngobe-Bugle Comarca into southwestern Costa Rica beginning in the 1960s, descended from tribes once led by chiefs like the famed Urraca, who repeatedly defeated the Spanish before forcing a peace treaty in 1522. They mostly adhere to Ethnoreligion and Ngäbere is their primary language.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Guaymi

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Latin American and Caribbean Peoples
Country: Costa Rica
People Cluster: South American Indigenous
Primary Language(s): Ngäbere (gym)
Primary Religion(s): Ethnoreligion
Population: 4,900
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 2% or Greater but Less than 5% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG024976
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Guaymi of Costa Rica

Join others around the world in praying for the lost to be saved, the gospel to advance, the global Church to grow, and for laborers to be sent out and sustained in the harvest.

Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Ethnoreligion
Religious Affiliation: Ethnoreligion

—
%
Ethnoreligion Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Ngäbere
Language Family: Chibchan

75%
%
Ngäbere Speakers

Media Resources in Ngäbere:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Ngäbere:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
2004 Wycliffe Bible Translators Inc.✓✓✓

1 entry

Or check out the Ngäbere bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Guaymi are No Longer Unreached, which means there are more than 2% evangelical Christian populations and there are churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice. There is still more to be done among them.

Next steps for the Guaymi:
Empower local believers to begin praying for their own people
Continue gospel seed sowing and church planting
Encourage local leaders to being leading church planting strategy and looking for Unreached and Unengaged groups nearby

Pray specifically for the Guaymi of Costa Rica

For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens.
read1 Chronicles 16:26

Pray that those among them who are lost and seeking after worthless idols will have the opportunity to hear and respond to the good news, seeing that Jesus is better than any idol.

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
readMatthew 6:10

Pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven, and that people will seek His kingdom and righteousness above all else, trusting in His provision.

I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.
readPsalm 89:1

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will declare and record His faithfulness and love to be passed on from generation to generation.

Oh give thanks to the LORD; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!
readPsalm 105:1

Pray that many among them will call on the name of Jesus, develop a heart for the nations, and go to places where the gospel has not yet been received.

Guaymi Across Countries (ROP3 - 103515) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

To download a comprehensive people group list in spreadsheet form, visit our Research Data page.

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