Buddhism by country

Buddhism by country

Percentage of Buddhists by country in 2020, according to the Pew Research Center

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. By sheer numbers, Thailand accounts for the largest portion of the global Buddhist population, It is the state religion in four countries — Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Pew Research stated that Buddhism was the only religion to have declined in their 2010 to 2020 report covering the global religious landscape.

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. Other smaller schools such as Navayana are scantly followed in India.

By country

Ten countries with the largest Buddhist populations

<table><thead><tr><th>Country</th><th>Estimated Buddhist population</th><th>% of Buddhist share of the country's population</th><th>% of world Buddhist population</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Thailand</td><td>67,620,000</td><td>94.4%</td><td>20.9%</td></tr><tr><td>China</td><td>53,380,000</td><td>3.7%</td><td>16.5%</td></tr><tr><td>Myanmar</td><td>47,210,000</td><td>89.1%</td><td>14.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Japan</td><td>46,990,000</td><td>37.2%</td><td>14.5%</td></tr><tr><td>Vietnam</td><td>22,580,000</td><td>23.0%</td><td>7.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Cambodia</td><td>16,240,000</td><td>97.1%</td><td>5.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Sri Lanka</td><td>15,700,000</td><td>69.6%</td><td>4.8%</td></tr><tr><td>South Korea</td><td>9,850,000</td><td>19.0%</td><td>3.0%</td></tr><tr><td>India</td><td>9,550,000</td><td>0.7%</td><td>2.9%</td></tr><tr><td>Malaysia</td><td>6,400,000</td><td>18.9%</td><td>2.0%</td></tr><tr><td>Subtotal for the ten countries</td><td>295,530,000</td><td>(% of total of all ten countries) 8.9%</td><td>91.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Subtotal for the rest of the world</td><td>28,660,000</td><td>(% of rest of world population) 0.6%</td><td>8.8%</td></tr><tr><td>World total</td><td>324,190,000</td><td>4.1%</td><td>100%</td></tr></tbody></table>

Buddhist population by country in 2010 (Pew Research Center)

<table><thead><tr><th>Country/Territory</th><th>Population</th><th>% Buddhist</th><th>No. of Buddhists</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Afghanistan</td><td>31,410,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Albania</td><td>3,200,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Algeria</td><td>35,470,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> American Samoa</td><td>70,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Andorra</td><td>80,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Angola</td><td>19,080,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Argentina</td><td>40,410,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>20,000</td></tr><tr><td> Armenia</td><td>3,090,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Aruba</td><td>110,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Australia</td><td>22,270,000</td><td>2.7%</td><td>600,000</td></tr><tr><td>Austria</td><td>8,390,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>20,000</td></tr><tr><td> Azerbaijan</td><td>9,190,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Bahamas</td><td>340,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Bahrain</td><td>1,260,000</td><td>2.5%</td><td>30,000</td></tr><tr><td>Bangladesh</td><td>148,690,000</td><td>0.6%</td><td>1,001,000</td></tr><tr><td> Barbados</td><td>270,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Belarus</td><td>9,600,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Belgium</td><td>10,710,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>30,000</td></tr><tr><td>Belize</td><td>310,000</td><td>0.5%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Benin</td><td>8,850,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Bermuda</td><td>60,000</td><td>0.5%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Bhutan</td><td>730,000</td><td>74.7%</td><td>540,000</td></tr><tr><td> Bolivia</td><td>9,930,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Botswana</td><td>2,010,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Brazil</td><td>194,950,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>250,000</td></tr><tr><td>Brunei</td><td>400,000</td><td>8.6%</td><td>30,000</td></tr><tr><td>Bulgaria</td><td>7,490,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Burkina Faso</td><td>16,470,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Cambodia</td><td>14,140,000</td><td>96.9%</td><td>13,690,000</td></tr><tr><td>Cameroon</td><td>19,600,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Canada</td><td>34,020,000</td><td>0.8%</td><td>280,000</td></tr><tr><td>Chad</td><td>11,230,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Chile</td><td>17,110,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>10,000</td></tr><tr><td>China</td><td>1,341,340,000</td><td>18.2%</td><td>244,130,000</td></tr><tr><td> Colombia</td><td>46,290,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Democratic Republic of the Congo</td><td>65,970,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Republic of the Congo</td><td>4,040,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Costa Rica</td><td>4,660,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Côte d'Ivoire</td><td>19,740,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Croatia</td><td>4,400,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Cuba</td><td>11,260,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Cyprus</td><td>1,100,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Czech Republic</td><td>10,490,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Denmark</td><td>5,550,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Dominica</td><td>70,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Dominican Republic</td><td>9,930,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Ecuador</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Egypt</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>El Salvador</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Estonia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Ethiopia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>?</td></tr><tr><td>Falkland Islands</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>?</td></tr><tr><td> Federated States of Micronesia</td><td>110,000</td><td>0.4%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Fiji</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Finland</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>France</td><td>62,790,000</td><td>0.5%</td><td>280,000</td></tr><tr><td> French Guiana</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> French Polynesia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Germany</td><td>82,300,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>210,000</td></tr><tr><td>Ghana</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Greece</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Guam</td><td>180,000</td><td>1.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Guatemala</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Guinea</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Guyana</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Haiti</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Honduras</td><td>7,600,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Hong Kong</td><td>7,050,000</td><td>13.2%</td><td>930,000</td></tr><tr><td>Hungary</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Iceland</td><td>320,000</td><td>0.4%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>India</td><td>1,224,610,000</td><td>0.8%</td><td>9,250,000</td></tr><tr><td>Indonesia</td><td>266,535,000</td><td>0.71%</td><td>2,062,150</td></tr><tr><td>Iran</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Iraq</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Ireland</td><td>4,470,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Israel</td><td>7,420,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>20,000</td></tr><tr><td>Italy</td><td>60,550,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>110,000</td></tr><tr><td> Jamaica</td><td>2,740,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Japan</td><td>126,540,000</td><td>36.2%</td><td>45,820,000</td></tr><tr><td>Jordan</td><td>6,190,000</td><td>0.4%</td><td>20,000</td></tr><tr><td>Kazakhstan</td><td>16,030,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>40,000</td></tr><tr><td>Kenya</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>North Korea</td><td>24,350,000</td><td>1.5%</td><td>370,000</td></tr><tr><td>South Korea</td><td>48,180,000</td><td>22.9%</td><td>11,050,000</td></tr><tr><td>Kuwait</td><td>2,740,000</td><td>2.8%</td><td>80,000</td></tr><tr><td>Kyrgyzstan</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Laos</td><td>6,200,000</td><td>66.1%</td><td>4,100,000</td></tr><tr><td> Latvia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Lebanon</td><td>4,230,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Lesotho</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Liberia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Libya</td><td>6,360,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>20,000</td></tr><tr><td>Liechtenstein</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Lithuania</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Luxembourg</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Macau</td><td>540,000</td><td>17.3%</td><td>90,000</td></tr><tr><td>Madagascar</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Malawi</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Malaysia</td><td>28,400,000</td><td>19.8%</td><td>5,010,000</td></tr><tr><td>Maldives</td><td>320,000</td><td>0.6%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Mali</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Malta</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Martinique</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Mauritius</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Mexico</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Mongolia</td><td>2,760,000</td><td>55.1%</td><td>1,520,000</td></tr><tr><td> Montenegro</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Morocco</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Mozambique</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Myanmar (Burma)</td><td>47,960,000</td><td>89.9%</td><td>38,410,000</td></tr><tr><td>Namibia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Nauru</td><td>10,000</td><td>1.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Nepal</td><td>29,960,000</td><td>10.3%</td><td>2,420,000</td></tr><tr><td>Netherlands</td><td>16,610,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>40,000</td></tr><tr><td> New Caledonia</td><td>250,000</td><td>0.6%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>New Zealand</td><td>4,370,000</td><td>1.1%</td><td>52,779</td></tr><tr><td>Nicaragua</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Nigeria</td><td>158,420,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>10,000</td></tr><tr><td> North Macedonia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Northern Mariana Islands</td><td>60,000</td><td>10.6%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Norway</td><td>4,880,000</td><td>0.6%</td><td>30,000</td></tr><tr><td>Oman</td><td>2,780,000</td><td>0.8%</td><td>20,000</td></tr><tr><td>Pakistan</td><td>173,590,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>20,000</td></tr><tr><td> Palau</td><td>20,000</td><td>0.8%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Palestine</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Panama</td><td>3,520,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Papua New Guinea</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Paraguay</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Peru</td><td>29,080,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>50,000</td></tr><tr><td>Philippines</td><td>93,260,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>40,000</td></tr><tr><td>Poland</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Portugal</td><td>10,680,000</td><td>0.6%</td><td>60,000</td></tr><tr><td> Puerto Rico</td><td>3,750,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Qatar</td><td>1,760,000</td><td>3.1%</td><td>50,000</td></tr><tr><td>Réunion</td><td>850,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Romania</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Russia</td><td>142,960,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>170,000</td></tr><tr><td>Saudi Arabia</td><td>27,450,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>90,000</td></tr><tr><td>Senegal</td><td>12,430,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Serbia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Seychelles</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Sierra Leone</td><td>5,870,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Singapore</td><td>5,090,000</td><td>33.9%</td><td>1,730,000</td></tr><tr><td>Slovakia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Slovenia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Solomon Islands</td><td>540,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>South Africa</td><td>50,130,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>100,000</td></tr><tr><td>Spain</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Sri Lanka</td><td>20,860,000</td><td>69.3%</td><td>14,450,000</td></tr><tr><td>Sudan</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Suriname</td><td>520,000</td><td>0.6%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Swaziland</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Sweden</td><td>9,380,000</td><td>0.4%</td><td>40,000</td></tr><tr><td>Switzerland</td><td>7,660,000</td><td>0.4%</td><td>30,000</td></tr><tr><td>Taiwan</td><td>23,220,000</td><td>21.3%</td><td>4,950,000</td></tr><tr><td>Tajikistan</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Tanzania</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Thailand</td><td>69,120,000</td><td>93.2%</td><td>64,420,000</td></tr><tr><td>Togo</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Tonga</td><td>100,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Tunisia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Trinidad and Tobago</td><td>1,340,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Turkey</td><td>72,750,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>40,000</td></tr><tr><td>Turkmenistan</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Tuvalu</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Uganda</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Ukraine</td><td>45,450,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>20,000</td></tr><tr><td>United Arab Emirates</td><td>7,510,000</td><td>2.0%</td><td>150,000</td></tr><tr><td>United Kingdom</td><td>62,040,000</td><td>0.4%</td><td>240,000</td></tr><tr><td>United States</td><td>310,380,000</td><td>1.2%</td><td>3,570,000</td></tr><tr><td>Uruguay</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>US Virgin Islands</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Uzbekistan</td><td>27,440,000</td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td> Vanuatu</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Venezuela</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Vietnam</td><td>87,850,000</td><td>16.4%</td><td>14,380,000</td></tr><tr><td>Yemen</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Zambia</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>Zimbabwe</td><td></td><td>< 0.1%</td><td>< 10,000</td></tr><tr><td>World</td><td>6,895,890,000</td><td>7.1%</td><td>487,540,000</td></tr></tbody></table>

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
Bangladesh	165,158,616	0.61%		2022	National census
Belgium		0.3%		2018	Other
Bhutan	735,553			2017	National census
Cambodia		97.9%		2013	Other
Canada		1.1%	366,830	2011	Census
China		4%	42,000,000	2023	Studies
Costa Rica		2.34%	100,000	2012	Other
Denmark		1.1%	64,000	2018	Other
Germany			270,000	2016	Other
India	1,210,854,977	0.7%	8,442,972	2011	National census
Italy		0.3%	160,000		Caritas Italiana
Japan		67.0%	84,336,539	2018	ACA Religious Yearbook
	67.2%		2020	CIA Factbook
Kuwait		4.0%	100,000	2006	Other
Macau		80.0%	455,000	2012	Government report
Mongolia		Up to 93.0%			Other
Myanmar	50,279,900	89.8%	45,185,449	2014	National census
Oman		1.2%	30,501		Other
Philippines			1,861,600		Other
Russia		0.6%	866,500	2016	Other
Saudi Arabia		1.5%	414,016	2007	Other
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
Sweden		0.7%	57,064	2020	Other
Taiwan		35.0%	8,050,000	2006	Other
Thailand	67,706,048	93.5%	63,299,193	2018	National census
	94.5%	63,620,298	2015	Census
United Arab Emirates		5.0%	222,201	2006	Other
Vietnam		Up to 66.7%			Other

By region

Buddhism by country

<table><thead><tr><th>Region</th><th>Estimated total population</th><th>Estimated Buddhist population</th><th>%</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>Asia-Pacific</td><td>4,054,990,000</td><td>481,290,000</td><td>11.9%</td></tr><tr><td>North America</td><td>344,530,000</td><td>3,860,000</td><td>1.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Europe</td><td>742,550,000</td><td>1,330,000</td><td>0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Middle East-North Africa</td><td>341,020,000</td><td>500,000</td><td>0.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Latin America-Caribbean</td><td>590,080,000</td><td>410,000</td><td><0.1%</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>6,895,890,000</td><td>487,540,000</td><td>7.1%</td></tr></tbody></table>