Buddhism by country
This list of Buddhism by country shows the distribution of the
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
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]
By country
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 |
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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{{cite web}}
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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