This list of Buddhism by country shows the distribution of the Buddhist religion, practiced by about 535 million people as of the 2010s, [1] [2] representing 7% to 8% of the world's total population. It also includes other entities such as some territories.
Buddhism is the State religion in four countries — Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. [3] The religion also holds a special status in two countries — Thailand and Laos.
Buddhism is the majority religion in Cambodia, Japan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, and Mongolia. It is also the most followed religion in certain nations or territories without any majority religion, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, [4] Macau, [5] [2] Singapore, [6] Taiwan, Vietnam, [7] and Kalmykia in Russia. Large Buddhist populations live in North Korea, South Korea, Nepal, and India. China has the largest population of Buddhists, around 470 million or 33.3% of its total population according to the new data of 2023. [1] They are mostly followers of Chinese schools of Mahayana , making this the largest body of Buddhist traditions.
Mahayana, also practised in broader East Asia, is followed by over half of the world's Buddhists. [1] The second largest body of Buddhist schools is Theravada , mostly followed in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. [1] The third largest body of schools Vajrayana , is followed mostly in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia and parts of Russia, [1] but is disseminated throughout the world. The fourth largest body of Buddhist schools is Navayana , mostly followed in Maharashtra, India. [8] [9]
Country/Territory | Population | % Buddhist | No. of Buddhists |
---|---|---|---|
Afghanistan | 31,410,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Albania | 3,200,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Algeria | 35,470,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
American Samoa | 70,000 | 0.3% | < 10,000 |
Andorra | 80,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Angola | 19,080,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Argentina | 40,410,000 | < 0.1% | 20,000 |
Armenia | 3,090,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Aruba | 110,000 | 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Australia | 22,270,000 | 2.7% | 600,000 |
Austria | 8,390,000 | 0.2% | 20,000 |
Azerbaijan | 9,190,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Bahamas | 340,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Bahrain | 1,260,000 | 2.5% | 30,000 |
Bangladesh | 148,690,000 | 0.6% | 1,001,000 |
Barbados | 270,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Belarus | 9,600,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Belgium | 10,710,000 | 0.2% | 30,000 |
Belize | 310,000 | 0.5% | < 10,000 |
Benin | 8,850,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Bermuda | 60,000 | 0.5% | < 10,000 |
Bhutan | 730,000 | 74.7% | 540,000 |
Bolivia | 9,930,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Botswana | 2,010,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Brazil | 194,950,000 | 0.1% | 250,000 |
Brunei | 400,000 | 8.6% | 30,000 |
Bulgaria | 7,490,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Burkina Faso | 16,470,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Cambodia | 14,140,000 | 96.9% | 13,690,000 |
Cameroon | 19,600,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Canada | 34,020,000 | 0.8% | 280,000 |
Chad | 11,230,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Chile | 17,110,000 | < 0.1% | 10,000 |
China | 1,341,340,000 | 33.4% | 470,000,000 |
Colombia | 46,290,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Democratic Republic of the Congo | 65,970,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Republic of the Congo | 4,040,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Costa Rica | 4,660,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Côte d'Ivoire | 19,740,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Croatia | 4,400,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Cuba | 11,260,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Cyprus | 1,100,000 | 0.2% | < 10,000 |
Czech Republic | 10,490,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Denmark | 5,550,000 | 0.2% | 10,000 |
Dominica | 70,000 | 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Dominican Republic | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Ecuador | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Egypt | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
El Salvador | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Estonia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Ethiopia | < 0.1% | ? | |
Falkland Islands | < 0.1% | ? | |
Federated States of Micronesia | 110,000 | 0.4% | < 10,000 |
Fiji | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Finland | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
France | 62,790,000 | 0.5% | 280,000 |
French Guiana | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
French Polynesia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Germany | 82,300,000 | 0.3% | 210,000 |
Ghana | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Greece | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Guam | 180,000 | 1.1% | < 10,000 |
Guatemala | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Guinea | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Guyana | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Haiti | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Honduras | 7,600,000 | 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Hong Kong | 7,050,000 | 13.2% | 930,000 |
Hungary | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Iceland | 320,000 | 0.4% | < 10,000 |
India | 1,224,610,000 | 0.8% | 9,250,000 |
Indonesia | 266,535,000 | 0.71% | 2,062,150 |
Iran | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Iraq | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Ireland | 4,470,000 | 0.2% | < 10,000 |
Israel | 7,420,000 | 0.3% | 20,000 |
Italy | 60,550,000 | 0.2% | 110,000 |
Jamaica | 2,740,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Japan | 126,540,000 | 36.2% | 45,820,000 |
Jordan | 6,190,000 | 0.4% | 20,000 |
Kazakhstan | 16,030,000 | 0.2% | 40,000 |
Kenya | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
North Korea | 24,350,000 | 1.5% | 370,000 |
South Korea | 48,180,000 | 22.9% | 11,050,000 |
Kuwait | 2,740,000 | 2.8% | 80,000 |
Kyrgyzstan | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Laos | 6,200,000 | 66.1% | 4,100,000 |
Latvia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Lebanon | 4,230,000 | 0.2% | < 10,000 |
Lesotho | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Liberia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Libya | 6,360,000 | 0.3% | 20,000 |
Liechtenstein | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Lithuania | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Luxembourg | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Macau | 540,000 | 17.3% | 90,000 |
Madagascar | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Malawi | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Malaysia | 28,400,000 | 19.8% | 5,010,000 |
Maldives | 320,000 | 0.6% | < 10,000 |
Mali | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Malta | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Martinique | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Mauritius | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Mexico | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Mongolia | 2,760,000 | 55.1% | 1,520,000 |
Montenegro | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Morocco | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Mozambique | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Myanmar (Burma) | 47,960,000 | 89.9% | 38,410,000 |
Namibia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Nauru | 10,000 | 1.1% | < 10,000 |
Nepal | 29,960,000 | 8.2% | 2,420,000 |
Netherlands | 16,610,000 | 0.2% | 40,000 |
New Caledonia | 250,000 | 0.6% | < 10,000 |
New Zealand | 4,370,000 | 1.1% | 52,779 |
Nicaragua | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Nigeria | 158,420,000 | < 0.1% | 10,000 |
North Macedonia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Northern Mariana Islands | 60,000 | 10.6% | < 10,000 |
Norway | 4,880,000 | 0.6% | 30,000 |
Oman | 2,780,000 | 0.8% | 20,000 |
Pakistan | 173,590,000 | < 0.1% | 20,000 |
Palau | 20,000 | 0.8% | < 10,000 |
Palestine | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Panama | 3,520,000 | 0.2% | < 10,000 |
Papua New Guinea | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Paraguay | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Peru | 29,080,000 | 0.2% | 50,000 |
Philippines | 93,260,000 | 0.03% | 40,000 |
Poland | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Portugal | 10,680,000 | 0.6% | 60,000 |
Puerto Rico | 3,750,000 | 0.3% | 10,000 |
Qatar | 1,760,000 | 3.1% | 50,000 |
Réunion | 850,000 | 0.2% | < 10,000 |
Romania | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Russia | 142,960,000 | 0.1% | 170,000 |
Saudi Arabia | 27,450,000 | 0.3% | 90,000 |
Senegal | 12,430,000 | 0.3% | < 10,000 |
Serbia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Seychelles | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Sierra Leone | 5,870,000 | 0.3% | < 10,000 |
Singapore | 5,090,000 | 33.9% | 1,730,000 |
Slovakia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Slovenia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Solomon Islands | 540,000 | 0.3% | < 10,000 |
South Africa | 50,130,000 | 0.2% | 100,000 |
Spain | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Sri Lanka | 20,860,000 | 69.3% | 14,450,000 |
Sudan | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Suriname | 520,000 | 0.6% | < 10,000 |
Swaziland | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Sweden | 9,380,000 | 0.4% | 40,000 |
Switzerland | 7,660,000 | 0.4% | 30,000 |
Taiwan | 23,220,000 | 21.3% | 4,950,000 |
Tajikistan | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Tanzania | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Thailand | 69,120,000 | 93.2% | 64,420,000 |
Togo | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Tonga | 100,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Tunisia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Trinidad and Tobago | 1,340,000 | 0.3% | < 10,000 |
Turkey | 72,750,000 | < 0.1% | 40,000 |
Turkmenistan | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Tuvalu | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Uganda | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Ukraine | 45,450,000 | < 0.1% | 20,000 |
United Arab Emirates | 7,510,000 | 2.0% | 150,000 |
United Kingdom | 62,040,000 | 0.4% | 240,000 |
United States | 310,380,000 | 1.2% | 3,570,000 |
Uruguay | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
US Virgin Islands | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Uzbekistan | 27,440,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 |
Vanuatu | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Venezuela | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Vietnam | 87,850,000 | 16.4% | 14,380,000 |
Yemen | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Zambia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Zimbabwe | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
World | 6,895,890,000 | 7.1% | 487,540,000 |
Country/territory | Population | % Buddhist | No. of Buddhists | Year | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Argentina | 47,327,407 | 2022 | National census | ||
Australia | 25,422,788 | 2.4% | 615,800 | 2021 | National census [10] |
Bangladesh | 165,158,616 | 0.61% | 2022 | National census [11] | |
Belgium | 0.3% | 2018 | Other [12] | ||
Bhutan | 735,553 | 2017 | National census | ||
Cambodia | 97.9% | 2013 | Other [13] | ||
Canada | 1.1% | 366,830 | 2011 | Census [14] [15] | |
China | 33.4% | 470,000,000 | 2023 | Studies [16] | |
Costa Rica | 2.34% | 100,000 | 2012 | Other [17] | |
Denmark | 1.1% | 64,000 | 2018 | Other [18] | |
Germany | 270,000 | 2016 | Other [19] | ||
India | 1,210,854,977 | 0.7% | 8,442,972 | 2011 | National census |
Italy | 0.3% | 160,000 | Caritas Italiana [20] | ||
Japan | 67.0% | 84,336,539 | 2018 | ACA Religious Yearbook [21] | |
Up to 20.0% | 2017 | JGSS [22] | |||
Kuwait | 4.0% | 100,000 | 2006 | Other [23] | |
Macau | 80.0% | 455,000 | 2012 | Government report [24] | |
Mongolia | Up to 93.0% | Other [25] | |||
Myanmar | 50,279,900 | 89.8% | 45,185,449 | 2014 | National census [26] |
Oman | 1.2% | 30,501 | Other [27] | ||
Philippines | 1,861,600 | Other [28] | |||
Russia | 0.6% | 866,500 | 2016 | Other [29] | |
Saudi Arabia | 1.5% | 414,016 | 2007 | Other [30] | |
Singapore | 4,044,210 | 31.1% | 1,257,749 | 2020 | National census |
Sri Lanka | 20,359,439 | 70.2% | 14,272,056 | 2011 | National census [31] |
Sweden | 0.7% | 57,064 | 2020 | Other [32] | |
Taiwan | 35.0% | 8,050,000 | 2006 | Other [33] | |
Thailand | 67,706,048 | 93.5% | 63,299,193 | 2018 | National census |
94.5% | 63,620,298 | 2015 | Census [34] | ||
United Arab Emirates | 5.0% | 222,201 | 2006 | Other [35] [36] | |
Vietnam | Up to 66.7% | Other [37] |
Region | Estimated total population | Estimated Buddhist population | % |
---|---|---|---|
Asia-Pacific | 4,054,990,000 | 481,290,000 | 11.9% |
North America | 344,530,000 | 3,860,000 | 1.1% |
Europe | 742,550,000 | 1,330,000 | 0.2% |
Middle East-North Africa | 341,020,000 | 500,000 | 0.1% |
Latin America-Caribbean | 590,080,000 | 410,000 | <0.1% |
Total | 6,895,890,000 | 487,540,000 | 7.1% |
Country | Estimated Buddhist population | % of the total population of the country | % of world Buddhist population |
---|---|---|---|
China | 244,130,000 | 18.2% | 50.1% |
Thailand | 64,420,000 | 94.5% | 13.2% |
Japan | 45,820,000 | 36.2% | 9.4% |
Myanmar | 38,410,000 | 87.9% | 7.9% |
Vietnam | 14,910,000 | 14.9% | 2.9% |
Sri Lanka | 14,450,000 | 70.2% | 3.0% |
Cambodia | 13,690,000 | 96.9% | 2.8% |
South Korea | 11,050,000 | 22.9% | 2.3% |
India | 9,250,000 | 0.8% | 1.9% |
Malaysia | 5,010,000 | 19.8% | 1.0% |
Subtotal for the ten countries | 460,620,000 | (% of total of all ten countries) 15.3% | 94.5% |
Subtotal for the rest of the world | 26,920,000 | (% of rest of world population) 0.4% | 5.5% |
World total | 487,540,000 | 7.1% | 100% |
General:
The People's Republic of China is the second most-populous country in the world and Asia with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, only surpassed by India. Historically, China has always been one of the nation-states with the most population.
Christianity is the largest religion in Belgium, with the Catholic Church representing the largest community, though it has experienced a significant decline since the 1950s. Belgium's policy separates the state from the churches, and freedom of religion of the citizens is guaranteed by the country's constitution.
Religion in Singapore is characterised by a wide variety of religious beliefs and practices due to its diverse ethnic mix of people originating from various parts of the world. A secular state, Singapore is commonly termed as a "melting pot" or "cultural mosaic " of various religious practices originating from different religions and religious denominations around the world. Most major religious denominations are present in the country, with the Singapore-based Inter-Religious Organisation recognising 10 major religions. A 2014 analysis by the Pew Research Center found Singapore to be the world's most religiously diverse nation.
Buddhism is the second largest religion in Malaysia, after Islam, with 18.7% of Malaysia's population being Buddhist, although some estimates put that figure at 21.6% when combining estimates of numbers of Buddhists with figures for adherents of Chinese religions which incorporate elements of Buddhism. Buddhism in Malaysia is mainly practised by the ethnic Malaysian Chinese, but there are also Malaysian Siamese, Malaysian Sri Lankans and Burmese in Malaysia that practice Buddhism such as Ananda Krishnan and K. Sri Dhammananda and a sizeable population of Malaysian Indians.
The Catholic Church is "the Catholic Communion of Churches, both Roman and Eastern, or Oriental, that are in full communion with the Bishop of Rome ." The church is also known by members as the People of God, the Body of Christ, the "Temple of the Holy Spirit", among other names. According to Vatican II's Gaudium et spes, the "church has but one sole purpose–that the kingdom of God may come and the salvation of the human race may be accomplished."
Buddhism is among the smallest minority-religions in Canada, with a very slowly growing population in the country, partly the result of conversion, with only 4.6% of new immigrants identifying themselves as Buddhist. As of 2021, the census recorded 356,975 or 1% of the population.
Christianity is the largest religion in Denmark. As of 2024, 71.2% of the population of Denmark were registered members of the Church of Denmark, the officially established church, which is Protestant in classification and Lutheran in orientation.
As of the year 2023, Christianity had approximately 2.4 billion adherents and is the largest religion by population. According to a PEW estimation in 2020, Christians made up to 2.38 billion of the worldwide population of about 8 billion people. It represents nearly one-third of the world's population and is the largest religion in the world, with the three largest groups of Christians being the Catholic Church, Protestantism, and the Eastern Orthodox Church. The largest Christian denomination is the Catholic Church, with 1.3 billion baptized members. The second largest Christian branch is either Protestantism, or the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Religion has been a major influence on the societies, cultures, traditions, philosophies, artistic expressions and laws within present-day Europe. The largest religion in Europe is Christianity. However, irreligion and practical secularisation are also prominent in some countries. In Southeastern Europe, three countries have Muslim majorities, with Christianity being the second-largest religion in those countries.
Asia is the largest and most populous continent and the birthplace of many religions including Buddhism, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, Korean shamanism, and Zoroastrianism. All major religious traditions are practiced in the region and new forms are constantly emerging. Asia is noted for its diversity of culture. Hinduism and Islam are the largest religion in Asia with approximately 1.2-1.3 billion adherents each.
Buddhism in Southeast Asia includes a variety of traditions of Buddhism including two main traditions: Mahāyāna Buddhism and Theravāda Buddhism. Historically, Mahāyāna had a prominent position in the region, but in modern times, most countries follow the Theravāda tradition. Southeast Asian countries with a Theravāda Buddhist majority are Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, all of them mainland countries.
Buddhism has been present in the Middle East and influenced some Middle Eastern religions such as Manichaeism. Buddhism, per some estimates by early medieval Muslim scholars such as Al-Biruni, was present from Eastern ancient Persia up to the frontier of Syria before the advent of Islam.
Religion in the European Union is diverse. The largest religion in the EU is Christianity, which accounted for 72.8% of EU population as of 2018. Smaller groups include those of Islam, Buddhism, Judaism, Hinduism, and some East Asian religions, most concentrated in Germany and France. Also present are revival movements of pre-Christianity European folk religions including Heathenism, Rodnovery, Romuva, and Druidry.
Buddhism in the United Kingdom is the fifth-largest religious group in the United Kingdom. The 2021 United Kingdom census recorded just under 290,000 Buddhists, or about 0.4% of the total population, with the largest number of Buddhists residing in Greater London and South East England. According to a Buddhist organisation, the growth of Buddhism in the United Kingdom is mainly a result of conversions.
Myanmar (Burma) is a Buddhist majority country with a significant minority of Christians and other groups residing in the country.
Buddhism is practised in Africa. Though there have been some conversions amongst Africans, the majority of Buddhists in Africa are of Asian descent, mostly Chinese, Vietnamese, Sri Lankan or Japanese.
Buddhism is a minority religion in Denmark with approximately 64,000 members (1.1%) in 2018.
China has the world's largest irreligious population, and the Chinese government and the ruling Chinese Communist Party have conducted antireligious campaigns throughout their rule. Religious freedom is protected under the Chinese constitution. Among the general Chinese population, there are a wide variety of religious practices. The Chinese government's attitude to religion is one of skepticism and non-promotion.
Buddhism is New Zealand's third-largest religion after Christianity and Hinduism standing at 1.5% of the population of New Zealand. Buddhism originates in Asia and was introduced to New Zealand by immigrants from East Asia.
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