The Yaitepec Chatino of Mexico

The Yaitepec Chatino of Mexico, numbering approximately 6,700 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are described as a Chatino-speaking people believed to be among the earliest inhabitants of Oaxaca, whose ancestors broke away culturally and politically from the Zapotecs of Monte Alban around the time of Christ They are an Indigenous people, with Chatino as their ethnic/kinship group and are in the Zapotec people cluster of the Latin American and Caribbean Peoples. Their primary religion is Folk Catholicism. They primarily speak Western Highland Chatino.

Photo by Google. (2026). Image generated by Gemini 3.1 Flash-Lite: Chatino, Yaitepec

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Latin American and Caribbean Peoples
Country: Mexico
People Cluster: Zapotec
Primary Language(s): Western Highland Chatino (ctp)
Primary Religion(s): Folk Catholicism
Population: 6,700
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): Engaged yet Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): Less than 2% Evangelical, Concentrated CP Activity
People Group ID: PG039051
View on Joshua Project

Pray for the Yaitepec Chatino of Mexico

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: Folk Catholicism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

99%
%
Folk Catholicism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Western Highland Chatino
Language Family: Otomanguean

99%
%
Chatino, Western Highland Speakers

Media Resources in Western Highland Chatino:

Films:

No film resources are listed for this language.

Bible Resources in Western Highland Chatino:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
1992 The Bible League✓

1 entry

Or check out the Western Highland Chatino bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: Unreached yet Engaged

The Yaitepec Chatino are Engaged yet Unreached, which means there are less than 2% evangelical Christian populations but there are sustained efforts at establishing self-sustaining churches consistent with evangelical faith and practice.

Next steps for the Yaitepec Chatino:
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

Pray specifically for the Yaitepec Chatino of Mexico

But Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven"
readMatthew 9:14

Pray that those who are spiritually dead will recognize their need for spiritual nourishment and turn to the One who offers true fulfillment.

Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth.
readPsalm 67:4

Pray that God will use ways from in-person witnesses to digital gospel resources to bring the joy of His salvation to everyone so that they can be glad in Him and sing for joy.

And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness.
readActs 4:29

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ and face rejection by unbelievers in their communities, God will give them discernment, boldness, and encouragement to speak His Word.

"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
readJohn 7:38

Ask God to raise up believers and sustain them as they cross cultures to share hope with those who need it. Pray that many might come to know Christ and that streams of living water will flow from their hearts so they will never thirst again.

Chatino, Yaitepec Across Countries (ROP3 - 110929) 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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