Buddhism by country
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.
Buddhism is the dominant religion in Bhutan, Myanmar, Cambodia, Mainland China, Hong Kong,[5] Japan,[6] Tibet, Laos, Macau,[7] Mongolia, Singapore,[8] Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Kalmykia and Vietnam.[9] Large Buddhist populations live in North Korea, Nepal, India and South Korea. China is the country with 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.[10][11]
According to scholar Peter Harvey, the number of adherents of Eastern Buddhism (Mahayana) is 360 million, Southern Buddhism (Theravada) 150 million, and Northern Buddhism (Vajrayana) 18.2 million. Seven million additional Buddhists are found outside Asia.[3]
By country[edit]
Country/Territory | Pew estimates (2010)[1] | Other estimates | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 0.5% | 720,000 | 0.6% (2011 census)[12] |
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)[13] |
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 | 97.9% | 13,690,000 | 97.9% (2013)[14] |
Cameroon | 19,600,000 | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | |
Canada | 34,020,000 | 0.8% | 280,000 | 1.1% / 366,830 (2011 Census)[15][16] |
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 | 2.34% / 100,000 (2012)[17] |
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)[18] |
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% | < 10,000 | ||
Falkland Islands | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | ||
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)[19] |
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 | 0.7% / 8,442,972 (2011 Census) |
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)[20] |
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);[21] less than 20% (2017, JGSS)[22] |
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)[23] |
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)[24] |
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%[25] |
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 | 87.9% (Census 2014)[26] |
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 | |
Northern Mariana Islands | 60,000 | 10.6% | < 10,000 | |
North Macedonia | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | ||
Norway | 4,880,000 | 0.6% | 30,000 | |
Oman | 2,780,000 | 0.8% | 20,000 | 1.20% / 30,501[27] |
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% | 80,000 | 46,558 (2010 census)[28] |
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)[29] |
Saudi Arabia | 27,450,000 | 0.3% | 90,000 | 1.5% / 414,016 (2007)[30] |
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 | 70.2% / 14,222,844 (2011 census)[31] |
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)[32] |
Tajikistan | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | ||
Tanzania | < 0.1% | < 10,000 | ||
Thailand | 69,120,000 | 93.2% | 64,420,000 | 94.5% / 63,620,298 (2015 census)[33] |
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)[34][35] |
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[36] |
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[edit]
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[edit]
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% |
Sri Lanka | 14,450,000 | 70.2% | 3.0% |
Vietnam | 14,380,000 | 16.4% | 2.9% |
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[edit]
Other religions:
- Hinduism by country
- Islam by country
- Judaism by country
- Christianity by country
- Sikhism by country
- Baháʼí Faith by country
General:
External links[edit]
- The US State Department's International Religious Freedom Report 2010
- CIA FactBook
- adherents.com
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Global Religious Landscape: Buddhists". Pew Research Center. 18 December 2012.
- ^ Johnson, Todd M.; Grim, Brian J. (2013). The World's Religions in Figures: An Introduction to International Religious Demography (PDF). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley-Blackwell. pp. 34–37. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 October 2013. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ a b Harvey, Peter (2013). An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (2nd ed.). Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. p. 5. ISBN 9780521676748. Retrieved 2 September 2013.
- ^ Estimates include: 488 million (Pew 2012),[1] 495 million (Johnson & Grim 2013),[2] and 535 million (Harvey 2013).[3]
- ^ Planet, Lonely. "Religion & Belief in Hong Kong, China". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "ASIA SOCIETY: THE COLLECTION IN CONTEXT". www.asiasocietymuseum.org. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ "Religion in Macau - Festivals and Places of Worship - Holidify". www.holidify.com. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
- ^ Kuah, Khun Eng (1991). "State and Religion: Buddhism and NationalBuilding in Singapore". Pacific Viewpoint. 32 (1): 24–42. doi:10.1111/apv.321002. ISSN 2638-4825.
- ^ "Vietnam Buddhism".
- ^ "Manu Moudgil, Dalits Are Still Converting to Buddhism, but at a Dwindling Rate, The Quint, 17.06.17".
- ^ Moudgil, Manu (July 2017). "Conversion To Buddhism Has Brought Literacy, Gender Equality And Well-Being To Dalits – IndiaSpend-Journalism India -Data Journalism India-Investigative Journalism-IndiaSpend". www.indiaspend.com.
- ^ "Official Census Results 2011 page xiii" (PDF). Bangladesh Government. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 September 2017. Retrieved 17 April 2015.
- ^ Eurobarometer 90.4: Attitudes of Europeans towards Biodiversity, Awareness and Perceptions of EU customs, and Perceptions of Antisemitism. European Commission. Retrieved 9 August 2019 – via GESIS.
- ^ The World Factbook
- ^ "Religions in Canada—Census 2011". Statistics Canada/Statistique Canada. 8 May 2013.
- ^ "North America :: Canada — The World Factbook - Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. 14 December 2021.
- ^ "Buddhism in Costa Rica". The Costa Rican News. 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
- ^ "Eurobarometer 90.4 (December 2018): Attitudes of Europeans towards Biodiversity, Public Perception of Illicit Tobacco Trade, Awareness and Perceptions of EU customs, and Perceptions of Antisemitism", Special Eurobarometer, European Union: European Commission, 2018, retrieved 26 August 2019 – via GESIS
- ^ "Mitgliederzahlen: Buddhismus" (in German). Remid.de. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). www.db.caritas.glauco.it. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 November 2007. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ 宗教年鑑 令和元年版 [Religious Yearbook 2019] (PDF) (in Japanese). Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan. 2019. p. 35.
- ^ Iwai, Noriko (11 October 2017). Measuring religion in Japan: ISM, NHK and JGSS (PDF) (Report). JGSS Research Center.
- ^ "International Religious Freedom Report: Kuwait".
- ^ "state.gov". Retrieved 15 December 2014.
- ^ "Mongolia". U.S. Department of State. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
- ^ Department of Population Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population MYANMAR (July 2016). The 2014 Myanmar Population and Housing Census Census Report Volume 2-C. Department of Population Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population MYANMAR. pp. 12–15.
- ^ "The UK's Leading SEO Company for SME & Enterprise". Archived from the original on 30 September 2007.
- ^ https://psa.gov.ph/sites/default/files/2015%20PSY%20PDF.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^ "ФСО доложила о межконфессиональных отношениях в РФ". ZNAK. Retrieved 15 April 2017.
- ^ "International Religious Freedom Report: Saudi Arabia". 14 September 2007.
- ^ Department of Census and Statistics,The Census of Population and Housing of Sri Lanka-2011
- ^ https://2009-2017.state.gov/documents/organization/171672.pdf[bare URL PDF]
- ^ "Population by religion, region and area, 2015" (PDF). NSO. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 December 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
- ^ "International Religious Freedom Report: United Arab Emirates".
- ^ "Country Profiles". Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
- ^ Zatko, Martin; Emmons, Ron (12 July 2012). The Rough Guide to Vietnam. Rough Guides UK. ISBN 978-1-4093-5936-4.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Buddhism by country. |