This list of Buddhism by country shows the distribution of the Buddhist religion, practiced by about 535 million people as of the 2010s, [4] representing 7% to 8% of the world's total population. It also includes other entities such as some territories.
Buddhism is the official religion in four countries, Bhutan, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. [5] The religion also holds a special status in two countries, Thailand and Laos.
Buddhism is the majority religion in Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Mongolia, and Laos. It is also the most followed religion in certain nations or territories without any majority religion, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, [6] Japan, [7] Tibet, Macau, [8] Singapore, [9] Taiwan, Kalmykia, and Vietnam. [10] Large Buddhist populations live in North Korea, Nepal, India and South Korea. China has the largest population of Buddhists, approximately 244 million or 18.2% of its total population. [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. [11] [12]
Country/Territory | Most recent national census data | Pew estimates (2010) [1] | Other estimates | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Population | % Buddhist | No. of Buddhists | Census Year | 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 | 47,327,407 | 2022 | 40,410,000 | < 0.1% | 20,000 | |||
Armenia | 3,090,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |||||
Aruba | 110,000 | 0.1% | < 10,000 | |||||
Australia | 25,422,788 | 2.4% | 615,800 | 2021 [13] | 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 | 165,158,616 | 0.61% | 2022 [14] | 148,690,000 | 0.5% | 720,000 | ||
Barbados | 270,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |||||
Belarus | 9,600,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |||||
Belgium | 10,710,000 | 0.2% | 30,000 | 0.3% (2018) [15] | ||||
Belize | 310,000 | 0.5% | < 10,000 | |||||
Benin | 8,850,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |||||
Bermuda | 60,000 | 0.5% | < 10,000 | |||||
Bhutan | 735,553 | 2017 | 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 | 97.9% | 13,690,000 | 97.9% (2013) [16] | ||||
Cameroon | 19,600,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |||||
Canada | 34,020,000 | 0.8% | 280,000 | 1.1% / 366,830 (2011 Census) [17] [18] | ||||
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 | 18.3% / 254,700,000 (2020) [19] | ||||
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 | 2.34% / 100,000 (2012) [20] | ||||
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 | 1.1% / 64,000 (2018) [21] | ||||
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 | 270,000 (2016) [22] | ||||
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 | 1,210,854,977 | 0.7% | 8,442,972 | 2011 | 1,224,610,000 | 0.8% | 9,250,000 | |
Indonesia | 266,535,000 | 0.8% | 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 | 0.3% / 160,000 (According to Caritas Italiana) [23] | ||||
Jamaica | 2,740,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |||||
Japan | 126,540,000 | 36.2% | 45,820,000 | 67% or 84,336,539 (2018, ACA Religious Yearbook); [24] less than 20% (2017, JGSS) [25] | ||||
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 | 4% / 100,000 (2006) [26] | ||||
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 | 80% / 455,000 (2012 government report) [27] | ||||
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 | Up to 93% [28] | ||||
Montenegro | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | ||||||
Morocco | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | ||||||
Mozambique | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | ||||||
Myanmar (Burma) | 50,279,900 | 89.8% | 45,185,449 | 2014 [29] | 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% | 3,080,000 | |||||
Netherlands | 16,610,000 | 0.2% | 40,000 | |||||
New Caledonia | 250,000 | 0.6% | < 10,000 | |||||
New Zealand | 4,370,000 | 1.6% | 70,000 | |||||
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 | 1.20% / 30,501 [30] | ||||
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 | 2% | 1,861,600 | 1,861,600 [31] | ||||
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 | 0.6% / 866,500 (2016) [32] | ||||
Saudi Arabia | 27,450,000 | 0.3% | 90,000 | 1.5% / 414,016 (2007) [33] | ||||
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 | 4,044,210 | 31.1% | 1,257,749 | 2020 | 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 | 20,359,439 | 70.2% | 14,272,056 | 2011 [34] | 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 | 35% / 8,050,000 (2006) [35] | ||||
Tajikistan | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | ||||||
Tanzania | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | ||||||
Thailand | 67,706,048 | 93.5% | 63,299,193 | 2018 | 69,120,000 | 93.2% | 64,420,000 | 94.5% / 63,620,298 (2015 census) [36] |
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% | 150,000 | 5% / 222,201 (2006) [37] [38] | ||||
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 | Up to two-thirds [39] | ||||
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 |
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:
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" of various religious practices originating from different religious denominations around the world. Most major religious denominations are present in the country, with the Inter-Religious Organisation, Singapore (IRO) recognising 10 major religions. A 2014 analysis by the Pew Research Center found Singapore to be the world's most religiously diverse nation.
British society is one of the most secularised in the world and in many surveys determining religious beliefs of the population agnosticism, nontheism, atheism, secular humanism, and non-affiliation are views shared by a majority of Britons. Historically, it was dominated for over 1,400 years by various forms of Christianity, which replaced preceding Romano-British religions, including Celtic and Anglo-Saxon paganism. Religious affiliations of United Kingdom citizens are recorded by regular surveys, the four major ones being the national decennial census, the Labour Force Survey, the British Social Attitudes survey and the European Social Survey.
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."
Hinduism has approximately 1.2 billion adherents worldwide. Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world behind Christianity (31.5%) and Islam (23.3%).
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 0.8% of the population.
Christianity is the largest religion in Denmark. As of 2022, 72.5% 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 2021, Christianity had approximately 2.38 billion adherents and is the largest religion by population respectively. 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. Ancient European religions included veneration for deities such as Zeus. Modern revival movements of these religions include Heathenism, Rodnovery, Romuva, Druidry, Wicca, and others. Smaller religions include Indian religions, Judaism, and some East Asian religions, which are found in their largest groups in Britain, France, and Kalmykia.
Religion in Nepal encompasses a wide diversity of groups and beliefs. Nepal is a secular nation and secularism in Nepal under the Interim constitution is defined as "Religious and cultural freedom along with the protection of religion and culture handed down from time immemorial." That is, "The state government is bound for protecting and fostering Hindu religion while maintaining "Religious" and "Cultural" freedom throughout the nation as fundamental rights.
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, 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 is the largest religion in Asia with approximately 1.3 billion adherents.
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 and Myanmar, all mainland countries.
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 has a small but growing number of adherents which, according to a Buddhist organisation, is mainly a result of conversion. In the UK census for 2011, there were about 247,743 people who registered their religion as Buddhism, and about 174,000 who cited religions other than Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Jainism and Sikhism. This latter figure is likely to include some people who follow the traditional Chinese folk religion which also includes some elements of Buddhism.
This is an overview of religion by country or territory in 2010 according to a 2012 Pew Research Center report. The article Religious information by country gives information from The World Factbook of the CIA and the U.S. Department of State.
The predominant religion in the Republic of Ireland is Christianity, with the largest denomination being the Catholic Church. The Constitution of Ireland says that the state may not endorse any particular religion and guarantees freedom of religion.
Myanmar (Burma) is a Buddhist majority country with a significant minority of Christians and other groups residing in the country.
Bangladeshis are the citizens of Bangladesh, a South Asian country centred on the transnational historical region of Bengal along the eponymous bay.
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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