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PEOPLE GROUP PROFILE

The Yalalag Zapotec of Mexico

The Yalalag Zapotec of Mexico, numbering approximately 2,200 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are described as 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 an Indigenous people, with Zapotec 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 Zapotec, Yalálag.

Photo courtesy of Joshua Project. Photo Source: Copyrighted ©️ 2025 GAAPNet / Dick Bashta Used with permission

Fast Facts*:

Affinity Group: Latin American and Caribbean Peoples
Country: Mexico
People Cluster: Zapotec
Primary Language(s): Zapotec, Yalálag (zpu)
Primary Religion(s): Folk Catholicism
Population: 2,200
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG039232
View on Joshua Project

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Pray for the Yalalag Zapotec 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.

Pray Now!
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Dig Deeper (Religion):

Primary Religion: Folk Catholicism
Religious Affiliation: Christianity

87%
%
Folk Catholicism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Zapotec, Yalálag
Language Family: Otomanguean

95%
%
Zapotec, Yalálag Speakers

Media Resources in Zapotec, Yalálag:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Provided by the Jesus Film Project

View all resources

Bible Resources in Zapotec, Yalálag:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
2000, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Inc.✓✓✓

1 entry

Provided by Faith Comes by Hearing

Or check out the Zapotec, Yalálag bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

View all resources

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Yalalag Zapotec 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 Yalalag Zapotec:
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 Yalalag Zapotec of Mexico

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
readEphesians 5:8

Pray that those who are lost will turn from the darkness they are walking in and embrace the light, becoming children of light who bear fruit in every good work.

The people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.
readMatthew 4:16

Pray that those who dwell in darkness and live in the land of the shadow of death may be drawn out of darkness into His marvelous light.

You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
readDeuteronomy 6:5

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, and might, as they strive to live lives that honor and glorify Him.

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.
read2 Corinthians 1:11

Pray that many people will join in praying for the spread of the gospel here, and that God will answer these prayers by drawing more people to Himself.

Zapotec, Yalalag Across Countries (ROP3 - 110943) reported in the following countries:

Strategic Progress Index
All

2 people groups

PhotoPeople Group IDNameCountryPopulation ▼Strategic Progress IndexLanguageReligion
Yalalag ZapotecPG039232Yalalag ZapotecMexico2,200No Longer UnreachedZapotec, YalálagFolk Catholicism
Yalalag ZapotecPG049296Yalalag ZapotecUnited States225No Longer UnreachedZapotec, YalálagRoman Catholicism

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

*Peoplegroups.org relies on updates from the field and other organizations for much of our data, so if you have any updates, please contact us. We use various international naming standards. For a list of these standards and fields, visit our Data Standards section.

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