The Tzotzils of Mexico

The Tzotzils of Mexico, numbering approximately 777,000 people, are No Longer Unreached. They are a Mayan ethnolinguistic community indigenous to the central highlands of Chiapas, Mexico. They mostly adhere to Folk Catholicism and Tzotzil is their primary language.

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

Fast Facts:

Affinity Group: Latin American and Caribbean Peoples
Country: Mexico
People Cluster: Maya
Primary Language(s): Tzotzil (tzo)
Primary Religion(s): Folk Catholicism
Population: 777,000
Strategic Progress Index (SPI): No Longer Unreached
Global Status of Evangelical Christianity (GSEC): 5% or Greater but Less than 10% Evangelical
People Group ID: PG039169

Pray for the Tzotzils 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

63%
%
Folk Catholicism Adherents

Dig Deeper (Language):

Primary Language: Tzotzil
Language Family: Mayan

88%
%
Tzotzil Speakers

Media Resources in Tzotzil:

Films:
TitleLink
JESUSView Film

1 film

Bible Resources in Tzotzil:

Bible Name (Translation)VideoAudioText
2000 Bible Society of Mexico✓
1997 Bible Society of Mexico✓

2 entries

Or check out the Tzotzil bible at Bible.com

Linked from YouVersion

SPI: No longer Unreached

The Tzotzils 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 Tzotzils:
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 Tzotzils of Mexico

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
readMatthew 5:6

Pray for those who are lost to desire righteousness and to be filled with the peace and purpose that only comes from following Jesus.

Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.
readPsalm 119:97

Pray that the lost will have access to God's Word in their language and treasure it deeply, meditating on God's promises and precepts.

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.

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
readEphesians 1:13-14

Pray that God will work through believers near and far in bringing the lost to Himself, giving them what they need to do the task He has set before them, and helping them rest in Him because He has given them His Spirit.

Tzotzil Across Countries (ROP3 - 117158) 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.

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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