Buddhism by country
This list shows the distribution of the Buddhist religion, practiced by about 300 million, representing 4.1% of the world's total population.[1] It also includes other entities such as some territories.
Buddhism is the state religion in four countries — Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.[2] The religion also holds a special status in four countries — Thailand, Laos, Mongolia, and Japan.
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, Macau,[3] Singapore,[4] Taiwan, Vietnam, and Kalmykia in Russia. Large Buddhist populations live in South Korea, Nepal, and India.
Mahayana, also practised in broader East Asia, is followed by over half of the world's Buddhists.[5] The second largest body of Buddhist schools is Theravada, mostly followed in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka.[5] The third largest body of schools Vajrayana, is followed mostly in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia and parts of Russia,[5] but is disseminated throughout the world. The fourth largest body of Buddhist schools is Navayana, mostly followed in Maharashtra, India.[6][7]
By country
Buddhist population by country in 2010 (Pew Research Center)
| 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 | 18.2% | 244,130,000 |
| 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 | 10.3% | 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 | < 0.1% | 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 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 |
Buddhist population by country (Other data)
| 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[8] |
| Bangladesh | 165,158,616 | 0.61% | 2022 | National census[9] | |
| Belgium | 0.3% | 2018 | Other[10] | ||
| Bhutan | 735,553 | 2017 | National census | ||
| Cambodia | 97.9% | 2013 | Other[11] | ||
| Canada | 1.1% | 366,830 | 2011 | Census[12][13] | |
| China | 4% | 42,000,000 | 2023 | Studies[14] | |
| Costa Rica | 2.34% | 100,000 | 2012 | Other[15] | |
| Denmark | 1.1% | 64,000 | 2018 | Other[16] | |
| Germany | 270,000 | 2016 | Other[17] | ||
| India | 1,210,854,977 | 0.7% | 8,442,972 | 2011 | National census |
| Italy | 0.3% | 160,000 | Caritas Italiana[18] | ||
| Japan | 67.0% | 84,336,539 | 2018 | ACA Religious Yearbook[19] | |
| 67.2% | 2020 | CIA Factbook[20] | |||
| Kuwait | 4.0% | 100,000 | 2006 | Other[21] | |
| Macau | 80.0% | 455,000 | 2012 | Government report[22] | |
| Mongolia | Up to 93.0% | Other[23] | |||
| Myanmar | 50,279,900 | 89.8% | 45,185,449 | 2014 | National census[24] |
| Oman | 1.2% | 30,501 | Other[25] | ||
| Philippines | 1,861,600 | Other[26] | |||
| Russia | 0.6% | 866,500 | 2016 | Other[27] | |
| Saudi Arabia | 1.5% | 414,016 | 2007 | Other[28] | |
| 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[29] |
| Sweden | 0.7% | 57,064 | 2020 | Other[30] | |
| Taiwan | 35.0% | 8,050,000 | 2006 | Other[31] | |
| Thailand | 67,706,048 | 93.5% | 63,299,193 | 2018 | National census |
| 94.5% | 63,620,298 | 2015 | Census[32] | ||
| United Arab Emirates | 5.0% | 222,201 | 2006 | Other[33][34] | |
| Vietnam | Up to 66.7% | Other[35] |
By region
| 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% |
Ten countries with the largest Buddhist populations
| 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% |
See also
General:
References
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- Shinto: 70.5%
- Buddhism: 67.2%
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- Other: 5.9%
Percentages calculated using the official total population figure of 126,088,000 as of the end of 2020."Population Estimates Monthly Report - December 1, 2020 (Final estimates)".
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External links
- The US State Department's International Religious Freedom Report 2010
- CIA FactBook Archived 10 May 2013 at the Wayback Machine
- adherents.com
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buddhism by country.