The Yaitepec Chatino of Mexico

The Yaitepec Chatino of Mexico, numbering approximately 6,700 people, are Engaged yet Unreached. They are 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 mostly adhere to Folk Catholicism and Western Highland Chatino is their primary language.

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

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
readRomans 8:1

Pray that God will reassure those who may be struggling with the cost of following Jesus that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
readMatthew 16:16

Pray that many will see clearly that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and put their trust in Him.

For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
read1 Peter 2:25

Pray that as people place their faith in Christ, they will proclaim the good news and the lost will recognize their need for the Shepherd and turn to Jesus Christ in faith.

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
read2 Corinthians 5:20

Pray that those God sends to cross cultures will be His ambassadors, faithfully imploring people on Christ's behalf to be reconciled to God through Jesus.

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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