Buddhism by country
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This list shows the distribution of the Buddhist religion, practiced by about 320 million, representing 4.1% of the world's total population as of 2020[update].[1] By sheer numbers, Thailand accounts for the largest portion of the global Buddhist population,[2] It is the state religion in four countries — Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.[3] Pew Research stated that Buddhism was the only religion to have declined in their 2010 to 2020 report covering the global religious landscape.[4]
Mahayana, the largest branch of Buddhism, is followed by around 53% of Buddhists, mainly centered in East Asia whereas the second-largest branch Theravada is mostly followed in Mainland Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka with around 36% population as of 2010.[5] Other smaller schools such as Navayana are scantly followed in India.[6][7][8]
By country
Ten countries with the largest Buddhist populations
| Country | Estimated Buddhist population | % of Buddhist share of the country's population | % of world Buddhist population |
|---|---|---|---|
 Thailand |
67,620,000 | 94.4% | 20.9% |
 China |
53,380,000 | 3.7% | 16.5% |
 Myanmar |
47,210,000 | 89.1% | 14.6% |
 Japan |
46,990,000 | 37.2% | 14.5% |
 Vietnam |
22,580,000 | 23.0% | 7.0% |
 Cambodia |
16,240,000 | 97.1% | 5.0% |
 Sri Lanka |
15,700,000 | 69.6% | 4.8% |
 South Korea |
9,850,000 | 19.0% | 3.0% |
 India |
9,550,000 | 0.7% | 2.9% |
 Malaysia |
6,400,000 | 18.9% | 2.0% |
| Subtotal for the ten countries | 295,530,000 | (% of total of all ten countries) 8.9% | 91.2% |
| Subtotal for the rest of the world | 28,660,000 | (% of rest of world population) 0.6% | 8.8% |
| World total | 324,190,000 | 4.1% | 100% |
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 |
9,930,000 | < 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 |
< 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[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 |
4% | 42,000,000 | 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] | |
| 67.2% | 2020 | CIA Factbook[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] |
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% |
