Hinduism by country

Hinduism by country

Percentage of Hindus by country in 2010, according to the Pew Research Center

Hinduism has approximately 1.17 billion adherents worldwide (14.9% of the world's population). Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, behind Christianity (32.8%) and Islam (23.3%). Pew Research Center data shows the global Hindu population grew steadily from 2010 to 2020 and is expected to keep rising. This increase is driven largely by higher fertility rates in India and Nepal and by growing Hindu populations in regions receiving more migrants.

The two Hindu-majority countries are India and Nepal and together account for more than 95% of the Hindu population worldwide. The past two centuries have seen large-scale migration of Hindus from Southeast Asia, to around the world. Countries with more than 500,000 Hindu residents and citizens are (in decreasing order) India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United States, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Myanmar, Australia, Mauritius, South Africa, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. Global data shows Hinduism is still concentrated in the Indian Subcontinent, but significant communities also exist in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Oceania. WorldData.info reports that India holds most of the world’s Hindus, with notable populations in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

There are significant numbers of Hindu enclaves around the world, with many in South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Hinduism is also practiced by the non-Indic people including the Balinese of Bali island (Indonesia), Tengger of Java (Indonesia), the Balamon Chams of Vietnam, and Butuanon people in Philippines. Outside South Asia, Hindu communities often adapt traditional practices to multicultural environments. The Hindu American Foundation notes that diaspora groups modify rituals, language use, and temple organization to meet the needs of diverse generations.

Background

Hinduism by country

Hinduism is a heterogeneous religion and consists of many schools of thought. Hinduism includes a diversity of ideas on spirituality and traditions, but has no ecclesiastical order, no unquestionable religious authorities, no governing body, no prophet(s) nor any binding holy book; Hindus can be polytheistic, monotheistic, pantheistic, monistic, agnostic, humanist, or atheistic.

Early migration

Hinduism by country

One of the first major waves of Hindus leaving South Asia was a result of colonialism in India during 19th and early 20th century. Under indenture contracts, many Hindus migrated far across the world to Guyana, Surinam, Trinidad, Mauritius, South Africa, Eastern Africa, Fiji, Burma and Malaysia. These were some of the first countries with Hinduism established outside of the Indian sub-continent, many of which still have a thriving Hindu community today. Migration has played a major role in spreading Hindu communities worldwide. Kramer and Tong report that many Hindu migrants have settled in North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and East Africa, creating expanding diaspora networks

Demographic estimates

Hinduism by country

Demographic estimates of Hindu populations by country have been published by the Pew Research Center in 2012, as well as US State Department's International Religious Freedom Report 2006.

By total number, India has the most Hindus. As a percentage, Nepal has the largest percentage of Hindus in the world, followed by India and Mauritius. The Hindu population around the world as of 2020 is about 1.17 billion, making it the world's third-largest religion after Christianity and Islam, of which nearly 1.1 billion Hindus live in India. India contains 94% of the global Hindu population. According to a statistical study, an estimated 100 million Hindus live outside of India. In 2010, only two countries in the world had a majority of their population as Hindus – Nepal and India. In Mauritius, 47.9 percent of the population were Hindu, according to the 2022 census.

By country

Hinduism by country

Sources used for the table below include the US State Department, the CIA World Factbook, adherents.com, thearda.com, and Pew Research Center. and as identified.

<table><thead><tr><th>Region</th><th>Country</th><th>Hindu total</th><th>Percentage</th><th>Total population</th><th>Census year</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>South Asia/Central Asia</td><td>Afghanistan</td><td>10,511</td><td>0.03%</td><td>35,036,667</td><td>-NA-</td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Andorra</td><td>382</td><td>0.5%</td><td>82,887</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Anguilla</td><td>58</td><td>0.4%</td><td>13,452</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Antigua and Barbuda</td><td>379</td><td>0.4%</td><td>81,799</td><td>-NA-</td></tr><tr><td>South America</td><td>Argentina</td><td>4,000+</td><td>0.01%</td><td>40,301,927</td><td>-NA-</td></tr><tr><td>Oceania</td><td>Australia</td><td>684,000</td><td>2.7%</td><td>23,401,400</td><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td>Central Europe</td><td>Austria</td><td>11,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>8,900,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Bahrain</td><td>7,000 – 144,286</td><td><1%–9.8%</td><td>708,573</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>South Asia</td><td>Bangladesh</td><td>13,100,000</td><td>7.9%</td><td>165,000,000</td><td>2022</td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Barbados</td><td>1,055</td><td>0.46%</td><td>226,193</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Belgium</td><td>6,235</td><td>0.06%</td><td>10,392,226</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Central America and Caribbean</td><td>Belize</td><td>612</td><td>0.2%</td><td>294,385</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>South Asia</td><td>Bhutan</td><td>185,700</td><td>22.6%–25%</td><td>742,737</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>Botswana</td><td>3,353</td><td>0.3%</td><td>1,372,675</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>South America</td><td>Brazil</td><td>5,675–9,500</td><td>0.0029%–0.01%</td><td>192,755,799</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Asia</td><td>Brunei</td><td>131</td><td>0.035%</td><td>374,577</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>West Africa</td><td>Burkina Faso</td><td>150</td><td>0.001%</td><td>14,326,203</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Central Africa</td><td>Burundi</td><td>8,391</td><td>0.1%</td><td>8,390,505</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Asia</td><td>Cambodia</td><td>41,988</td><td>0.3%</td><td>13,995,904</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>North America</td><td>Canada</td><td>828,200</td><td>2.3%</td><td>36,990,141</td><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td>Central Europe</td><td>Czech Republic</td><td>2,404</td><td>0.023%</td><td>10,436,560</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>East Asia</td><td>China</td><td>20,000</td><td><0.1%</td><td>1,412,600,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>South America</td><td>Colombia</td><td>8,876</td><td>0.02%</td><td>44,379,598</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>East Africa</td><td>Comoros</td><td>711</td><td>0.1%(approx)</td><td>711,417</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Central Africa</td><td>Congo (Kinshasa)</td><td>30,000</td><td>0.18%</td><td>65,751,512</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Balkans</td><td>Croatia</td><td>449</td><td>0.01% (approx)</td><td>4,493,312</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>North America</td><td>Cuba</td><td>23,927</td><td>0.21%</td><td>11,394,043</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>West Africa</td><td>Côte d'Ivoire</td><td>18,013</td><td>0.1%</td><td>18,013,409</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Cyprus</td><td>4,640</td><td>0.4%</td><td>1,160,987</td><td>2015</td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Denmark</td><td>5,468</td><td>0.1%</td><td>5,468,120</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>East Africa</td><td>Djibouti</td><td>99</td><td>0.02%</td><td>496,374</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Dominica</td><td>145</td><td>0.2%</td><td>72,386</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>North Africa</td><td>Egypt</td><td>2,700</td><td>0.003%</td><td>82,761,244</td><td>2010</td></tr><tr><td>East Africa</td><td>Eritrea</td><td>4,907</td><td>0.1% (approx)</td><td>4,906,585</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Eastern Europe</td><td>Estonia</td><td>295</td><td>0.027%</td><td>1,094,564</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Oceania</td><td>Fiji</td><td>261,136</td><td>27.9%</td><td>935,974</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Finland</td><td>5,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>5,238,460</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>France</td><td>121,000</td><td>0.2%</td><td>63,718,187</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Eastern Europe</td><td>Georgia</td><td>465</td><td>0.01% (approx)</td><td>4,646,003</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Germany</td><td>130,000</td><td>0.15% (approx)</td><td>82,660,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>West Africa</td><td>Ghana</td><td>12,500</td><td>0.05% (approx)</td><td>22,931,299</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Gibraltar</td><td>628</td><td>2.0%</td><td>32,194</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Grenada</td><td>630</td><td>0.7%</td><td>89,971</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Guadeloupe</td><td>2,300</td><td>0.5%</td><td>460,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>South America and Caribbean</td><td>Guyana</td><td>190,966</td><td>24.9%</td><td>769,095</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Central Europe</td><td>Hungary</td><td>3,307</td><td>0.03%</td><td>9,603,634</td><td>2022</td></tr><tr><td>South Asia</td><td>India</td><td>1,053,000,000</td><td>79.8%</td><td>1,320,000,000</td><td>(2011 Census)</td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Asia</td><td>Indonesia</td><td>4,679,053</td><td>1.71%</td><td>273,873,000</td><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Iran</td><td>20,000</td><td><0.1</td><td>65,397,521</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Ireland</td><td>14,300</td><td>0.30%</td><td>4,761,865</td><td>2016</td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Israel</td><td>c.500–1,400</td><td>0.01%</td><td>9,412,850</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Italy</td><td>108,950</td><td>0.2% (approx)</td><td>60,418,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Jamaica</td><td>1,836</td><td>0.07%</td><td>2,780,132</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>East Asia</td><td>Japan</td><td>30,000</td><td><0.1</td><td>127,433,494</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Jordan</td><td>10,185</td><td>0.1</td><td>10,185,500</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>Central Asia</td><td>Kazakhstan</td><td>1,878</td><td>0.01%</td><td>18,632,000</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>East Africa</td><td>Kenya</td><td>60,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>37,000,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>East Asia</td><td>Korea, South</td><td>12,452</td><td>0.015% (approx)</td><td>49,044,790</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Kuwait</td><td>300,667</td><td>12%</td><td>2,505,559</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Eastern Europe</td><td>Latvia</td><td>179</td><td>0.012%</td><td>1,481,823</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Lebanon</td><td>4,926</td><td>0.1% (approx)</td><td>4,925,502</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Eastern Europe</td><td>Lithuania</td><td>344</td><td>0.01%</td><td>2,561,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>Lesotho</td><td>2,125</td><td>0.1% (approx)</td><td>2,125,262</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>West Africa</td><td>Liberia</td><td>3,196</td><td>0.1% (approx)</td><td>3,195,931</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>North Africa</td><td>Libya</td><td>6,037</td><td>0.1%</td><td>6,036,914</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Luxembourg</td><td>336</td><td>0.07% (approx)</td><td>480,222</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>Madagascar</td><td>19,449</td><td>0.1%</td><td>19,448,815</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>Malawi</td><td>2,721 – 2,726</td><td>0.02% – 0.2%</td><td>13,603,181</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Asia</td><td>Malaysia</td><td>1,949,850</td><td>6.3%</td><td>30,949,962</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Martinique</td><td>1,317</td><td>0.3%</td><td>439,202</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>South Asia</td><td>Maldives</td><td>37</td><td>0.01%</td><td>369,031</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>Mauritius</td><td>474,000</td><td>39%</td><td>1,261,000</td><td>2022</td></tr><tr><td>Eastern Europe</td><td>Moldova</td><td>433</td><td>0.01% (approx)</td><td>3,200,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>North Africa</td><td>Morocco</td><td>200</td><td>0.0006</td><td>32,781,860</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>Mozambique</td><td>10,453 – 41,811</td><td>0.05% – 0.2%</td><td>20,905,585</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Asia</td><td>Myanmar</td><td>252,763</td><td>0.5%</td><td>50,279,900</td><td>2014</td></tr><tr><td>South Asia</td><td>Nepal</td><td>23,677,744</td><td>81.19%</td><td>29,164,578</td><td>2021</td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Netherlands</td><td>96,110 – 200,000</td><td>0.58% – 1.20%</td><td>16,570,613</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Oceania</td><td>New Zealand</td><td>144,753</td><td>2.9%</td><td>4,115,771</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Norway</td><td>23,140</td><td>0.5%</td><td>4,627,926</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Oman</td><td>96,147 – 182,679</td><td>3% – 5.7%</td><td>3,204,897</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>South Asia</td><td>Pakistan</td><td>5,217,216</td><td>2.17%</td><td>240,458,089</td><td>2023</td></tr><tr><td>Central America</td><td>Panama</td><td>9,726</td><td>0.3%</td><td>3,242,173</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Asia</td><td>Philippines</td><td>32,711</td><td><0.1%</td><td>102,000,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Portugal</td><td>7,396</td><td>0.07%</td><td>10,642,836</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Central Europe</td><td>Poland</td><td>2,421</td><td>0.008%</td><td>30,575,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Puerto Rico</td><td>3,550</td><td>0.09%</td><td>3,944,259</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Qatar</td><td>422,118</td><td>15.1%</td><td>2,795,484</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>East Africa</td><td>Réunion</td><td>55,409</td><td>6.7%</td><td>927,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Eastern Europe</td><td>Russia</td><td>143,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>141,377,752</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Oceania</td><td>Samoa</td><td>38</td><td>0.02% (approx)</td><td>187,429</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Saint Kitts and Nevis</td><td>Saint Kitts and Nevis</td><td>860</td><td>1.82%</td><td>47,195</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Saudi Arabia</td><td>303,611</td><td>0.6% – 1.1%</td><td>27,601,038</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>East Africa</td><td>Seychelles</td><td>5,508</td><td>5.4%</td><td>102,812</td><td>2022</td></tr><tr><td>West Africa</td><td>Sierra Leone</td><td>2,458 – 6,145</td><td>0.04% – 0.1%</td><td>6,144,562</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Asia</td><td>Singapore</td><td>280,000</td><td>5.0%</td><td>5,600,000</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td>Central Europe</td><td>Slovakia</td><td>5,448</td><td>0.1% (approx)</td><td>5,447,502</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Central Europe</td><td>Slovenia</td><td>500</td><td>0.025% (approx)</td><td>2,009,245</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Eastern Africa</td><td>Somalia</td><td>8,278</td><td>0.06%</td><td>13,797,204</td><td>2015</td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>South Africa</td><td>505,000</td><td>0.9%-1.1%</td><td>49,991,300</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Spain</td><td>75,000</td><td>0.11%</td><td>48,692,804</td><td>2024</td></tr><tr><td>South Asia</td><td>Sri Lanka</td><td>2,671,000</td><td>12.6%</td><td>21,200,000</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td>South America and Caribbean</td><td>Suriname</td><td>120,623 – 128,995</td><td>22.3% – 27.4%</td><td>470,784</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>Eswatini</td><td>1,700 – 2,266</td><td>0.15% – 0.2%</td><td>1,133,066</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Sweden</td><td>7,044 – 10,837</td><td>0.078% – 0.12%</td><td>9,031,088</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>Switzerland</td><td>28,708-50,000</td><td>0.38%-0.6%</td><td>7,554,661</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>East Africa</td><td>Tanzania</td><td>50,000</td><td>0.11%</td><td>39,384,223</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>Trinidad and Tobago</td><td>240,100</td><td>18.2%</td><td>1,056,608</td><td>2011</td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Asia</td><td>Thailand</td><td>65,000</td><td>0.1%</td><td>65,068,149</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Oceania</td><td>Tonga</td><td>100</td><td>0.1%</td><td>103,043</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>North Africa</td><td>Tunisia</td><td>120</td><td>0.001%</td><td>11,303,942</td><td>2016</td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Turkey</td><td>843</td><td>0.001%</td><td>83,614,362</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>Eastern Europe</td><td>Ukraine</td><td>42,386</td><td>0.1%</td><td>42,386,400</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>East Africa</td><td>Uganda</td><td>100,000</td><td>0.3%</td><td>38,225,447</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>United Arab Emirates</td><td>490,000</td><td>5 - 20%</td><td>9,682,000</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Western Europe</td><td>United Kingdom</td><td>1,020,000</td><td>1.7%</td><td>60,776,238</td><td>2017</td></tr><tr><td>North America</td><td>United States</td><td>3,338,210</td><td>1.0%</td><td>332,000,000</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>Caribbean</td><td>United States Virgin Islands</td><td>528</td><td>1.9%</td><td>28,054</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Central Asia</td><td>Uzbekistan</td><td>895</td><td>0.0025%</td><td>34,558,900</td><td>2020</td></tr><tr><td>Southeast Asia</td><td>Vietnam</td><td>70,000</td><td>0.07%</td><td>85,262,356</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Middle East</td><td>Yemen</td><td>155,614</td><td>0.7%</td><td>22,230,531</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>Zambia</td><td>16,068</td><td>0.14%</td><td>11,477,447</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Southern Africa</td><td>Zimbabwe</td><td>3,000</td><td>0.02%</td><td>12,311,143</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td>1,120,000,000</td><td>14.9%</td><td>7,500,000,000</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>

By region

Hinduism by country

These percentages were calculated by using the above numbers. The first percentage, in the 4th column, is the percentage of the population that is Hindu in a specific region (Hindus in the region 100/total population of the region). The last column shows the Hindu percentage compared to the total Hindu population of the world (Hindus in the region 100/total Hindu population of the world). The historical development of Hinduism in India and Nepal continues to influence how the religion is viewed and practiced globally. Williams and Moktan note that political and cultural traditions in these countries shape modern Hindu identity beyond South Asia

(Note: Egypt, Sudan, and other Arab Maghreb countries are counted as part of North Africa, not the Middle East).

Region	Total Population	Hindus	% of Hindus	% of Hindu total
Central Africa	193,121,055	N/A	N/A	N/A
East Africa	193,741,900	667,694	0.345%	0.071%
North Africa	202,151,323	5,765	0.003%	0.001%
Southern Africa	137,092,019	1,269,844	0.926%	0.135%
West Africa	268,997,245	70,402	0.026%	0.007%
Total	885,103,542	2,013,705	0.225%	0.213%

Region	Total Population	Hindus	% of Hindus	% of Hindu total
Central Asia	92,019,166	149,644	0.163%	0.016%
East Asia	1,527,960,261	130,631	0.009%	0.014%
West Asia	274,775,527	3,187,673	1.5%	0.084%
South Asia	1,437,326,682	1,068,728,901	70.05%	98.475%
Southeast Asia	571,337,070	6,386,614	1.118%	0.677%
Total	3,903,418,706	1,074,728,901	26.01%	99.266%

Region	Total Population	Hindus	% of Hindus	% of Hindu total
Balkans	65,407,609	449	0.001%	0.001%
Central Europe	74,510,241	163	0%	0%
Eastern Europe	212,821,296	717,101	0.337%	0.076%
Western Europe	375,832,557	1,313,640	0.348%	0.138%
Total	728,571,703	2,030,904	0.278%	0.214%

Region	Total Population	Hindus	% of Hindus	% of Hindu total
Caribbean	24,898,266	279,515	1.123%	0.030%
Central America	41,135,205	5,833	0.014%	0.006%
North America	446,088,748	2,131,127	0.478%	0.191%
South America	371,075,531	389,869	0.105%	0.041%
Total	883,197,750	2,806,344	0.281%	0.263%

Region	Total Population	Hindus	% of Hindus	% of Hindu total
Oceania	38,552,683	791,615	2.053%	0.071%
Total	38,552,683	791,615	2.053%	0.071%