Unreached people group

Chiquitano

World population153K

LanguageChiquitano

ReligionEthnic Religions

Minimally reached

3.000%

Evangelicals

Latin-Caribbean AmericansSouth American Indigenous

Who they are

The Chiquitano are an indigenous people inhabiting the lowlands of eastern Bolivia and border regions with Brazil. Known for their rich cultural heritage shaped by historical coexistence in the ancient Chiquitania missions, they preserve a strong communal identity, combining ancestral customs with life in the dry forests and savannas of the Amazon basin and the Pantanal.

Their traditional language belongs to the Chiquitano linguistic family, although many also use Spanish and Portuguese in daily life. Baroque music and community work remain prominent hallmarks of their collective identity.

Where they live

Countries

153K

World population

Country	Share of the people	Population
Bolivia Partially reached	99,5%	150.000
Brazil Partially reached	0,5%	800

How they live

Daily life for the Chiquitano centers on subsistence agriculture, cultivating cassava, corn, and rice, alongside fishing and sustainable foraging. Social organization values assemblies and decisions made collectively by elders and local leaders.

Carpentry, woodcarving, and sacred music played on handcrafted instruments are vibrant cultural expressions. Mutual cooperation during harvests and celebrations strengthens the bonds among families in each village.

What they believe

Chiquitano spirituality blends devotions inherited from Catholicism with traditional beliefs in guardian spirits of nature and rivers. Ancient ritual practices coexist with popular religious celebrations from the liturgical calendar.

For most, these traditions form the foundation of communal cohesion, making a living faith in Christ something that needs to be understood without compromising the dignity of their cultural identity.

Gospel progress among the unreached

Christians (all traditions)37.958%

Evangelicals3.000%

Needs

Many Chiquitano communities face land disputes, recurring forest fires, and a lack of basic sanitation and nearby health clinics. In the spiritual realm, there is a need for ongoing discipleship and biblical resources adapted to their oral and cultural reality.

What to pray for

Intercede for this people

For protection and wisdom for families facing economic pressures and land loss.

For the availability and clear understanding of the gospel in the Chiquitano mother tongue.

For indigenous leaders to guide their people into a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

For the care of Chiquitano children and youth as they seek education and a dignified future.

Pray for Chiquitano

Intercede for this people alongside Christians around the world.

Open the Prayer Calendar