How Many Buddhist Countries In The World
Buddhist Population Percentage In The World
Cambodia
97.07%
Thailand
94.39%
Myanmar
89.04%
Bhutan
75.32%
Sri Lanka
69.59%
Buddhist Countries In The World Map
Top 10 Countries With Highest Buddhist Population
| S no. | Country | Percentage | Buddhists | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cambodia | 97.07 | 16,240,000 | 16,730,000 |
| 2 | Thailand | 94.39 | 67,620,000 | 71,640,000 |
| 3 | Myanmar | 89.04 | 47,210,000 | 53,020,000 |
| 4 | Bhutan | 75.32 | 580,000 | 770,000 |
| 5 | Sri Lanka | 69.59 | 15,700,000 | 22,560,000 |
| 6 | Laos | 64.08 | 4,710,000 | 7,350,000 |
| 7 | Mongolia | 51.06 | 1,680,000 | 3,290,000 |
| 8 | Japan | 37.21 | 46,990,000 | 126,300,000 |
| 9 | Singapore | 30.78 | 1,730,000 | 5,620,000 |
| 10 | Vietnam | 23.02 | 22,580,000 | 98,080,000 |
| 11 | Taiwan | 19.19 | 4,540,000 | 23,660,000 |
| 12 | Macao | 19.12 | 130,000 | 680,000 |
| 13 | South Korea | 18.99 | 9,850,000 | 51,860,000 |
| 14 | Malaysia | 18.88 | 6,400,000 | 33,890,000 |
| 15 | Hong Kong | 8.41 | 630,000 | 7,490,000 |
| 16 | Nepal | 8.22 | 2,380,000 | 28,970,000 |
| 17 | Brunei | 6.67 | 30,000 | 450,000 |
| 18 | China | 3.74 | 53,380,000 | 1,426,110,000 |
| 19 | Australia | 2.60 | 670,000 | 25,740,000 |
| 20 | Canada | 1.73 | 660,000 | 38,170,000 |
| 21 | North Korea | 1.53 | 400,000 | 26,140,000 |
| 22 | United States | 1.29 | 4,380,000 | 339,440,000 |
| 23 | New Zealand | 1.18 | 60,000 | 5,070,000 |
| 24 | Sweden | 0.87 | 90,000 | 10,350,000 |
| 25 | Norway | 0.74 | 40,000 | 5,380,000 |
| 26 | France | 0.71 | 470,000 | 65,910,000 |
| 27 | Denmark | 0.69 | 40,000 | 5,830,000 |
| 28 | India | 0.68 | 9,550,000 | 1,402,620,000 |
| 29 | Indonesia | 0.68 | 1,860,000 | 274,810,000 |
| 30 | Italy | 0.62 | 370,000 | 59,910,000 |
| 31 | Bangladesh | 0.61 | 1,010,000 | 166,300,000 |
| 32 | Switzerland | 0.58 | 50,000 | 8,640,000 |
| 33 | United Kingdom | 0.46 | 310,000 | 67,350,000 |
| 34 | Finland | 0.36 | 20,000 | 5,530,000 |
| 35 | Russia | 0.36 | 520,000 | 146,370,000 |
| 36 | Germany | 0.35 | 290,000 | 83,630,000 |
| 37 | Austria | 0.34 | 30,000 | 8,920,000 |
| 38 | Ukraine | 0.34 | 150,000 | 44,680,000 |
| 39 | Libya | 0.28 | 20,000 | 7,050,000 |
| 40 | Netherlands | 0.28 | 50,000 | 17,640,000 |
| 41 | United Arab Emirates | 0.21 | 20,000 | 9,450,000 |
| 42 | Hungary | 0.21 | 20,000 | 9,750,000 |
| 43 | Portugal | 0.19 | 20,000 | 10,370,000 |
| 44 | Belgium | 0.17 | 20,000 | 11,540,000 |
| 45 | Brazil | 0.11 | 220,000 | 208,660,000 |
| 46 | Kazakhstan | 0.10 | 20,000 | 19,480,000 |
| 47 | Guinea | 0.07 | 10,000 | 13,370,000 |
| 48 | Saudi Arabia | 0.06 | 20,000 | 30,990,000 |
| 49 | Turkey | 0.06 | 50,000 | 86,090,000 |
| 50 | Philippines | 0.04 | 40,000 | 112,080,000 |
| 51 | South Africa | 0.03 | 20,000 | 60,560,000 |
| 52 | Peru | 0.03 | 10,000 | 32,840,000 |
| 53 | Argentina | 0.02 | 10,000 | 45,190,000 |
| 54 | Mexico | 0.02 | 20,000 | 126,800,000 |
| 55 | Pakistan | 0.01 | 20,000 | 235,000,000 |
| Sources: | Pewresearch | Religious Composition Buddhist Population | |||
Countries With Highest Buddhist Population
Thailand
67,620,000
China
53,380,000
Myanmar
47,210,000
Japan
46,990,000
Indonesia
22,580,000
Global Buddhist Population By Country
Buddhist Population In World
As of Pewresearch Buddhist Population By Country, Buddhism remains one of the world’s most influential spiritual and philosophical traditions, with approximately 320 to 350 million adherents globally. Unlike other major world religions, the Buddhist Population By Country has recently shown a unique trend of regional contraction alongside western intellectual expansion. While over 98% of Buddhists reside in the Asia-Pacific region, shifting demographics in East Asia have led to a net decline in global numbers for the first time in modern history.
Technical Classification of the Global Buddhist Landscape
Evaluating the global Buddhist population requires distinguishing between the three primary schools of thought, which are often geographically concentrated:
Mahayana Buddhism (~55%): Dominant in East Asia (China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam).
Theravada Buddhism (~35%): The primary tradition in Southeast Asia (Thailand, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos).
Vajrayana Buddhism (~10%): Centered in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, and parts of Russia.
Regional Demographic Dynamics
The Southeast Asian Core (Majority Enclaves)
Countries like Cambodia (97%) and Thailand (94%) represent the highest density of Buddhist practitioners in the world. In these nations, the Buddhist Population By Country metrics reflect an institutionalized faith deeply woven into the state’s legal and cultural fabric. Unlike the declines seen elsewhere, adherence in Thailand and Cambodia remains remarkably stable due to strong traditional lineage and local education systems.
The East Asian Secular Shift
A significant challenge to the growth of Buddhism is currently unfolding in Japan and South Korea. Recent 2024-2026 data indicates that nearly 40-42% of adults raised in Buddhist households in these countries now identify as “religiously unaffiliated.” This generational shift toward secularism, combined with aging populations and low birth rates, has caused a “brick-shaped” demographic pyramid where there are fewer children to replace aging practitioners.
The Western Diaspora and Convert Growth
While the Buddhism population by country is shrinking in its traditional heartlands, it is seeing a unique “intellectual growth” in North America and Europe.
United States: Home to approximately 3.3 to 5 million Buddhists, split between heritage practitioners (immigrant communities) and a growing group of converts interested in secular mindfulness and meditation.
Europe: Countries like France and Germany have seen a 25%+ increase in Buddhist interest over the last decade, though absolute numbers remain below 1% of their respective populations.
Critical Factors Influencing Statistics
Low Fertility Rates: Buddhists have the lowest average number of children (1.6 per woman) compared to any other major religious group (Global average: 2.4).
Religious Syncretism: In many Asian countries, the “blurry” lines between Buddhism and local folk traditions make census reporting less precise than in monotheistic cultures.
Modernization: Urbanization in Asia has historically correlated with a rise in “religious switching” or total secularization among younger cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Which country has the highest percentage of Buddhists?
Cambodia holds the highest percentage density globally, with approximately 97.1% of its citizens identifying as Buddhist.
Why is the global Buddhist population declining while others are growing?
The decline is primarily due to demographics and geography. 98% of Buddhists live in Asia, where birth rates are plummeting and populations are aging faster than in the Global South (where Christianity and Islam are growing rapidly).
Is Buddhism growing in the United States?
Yes, in terms of cultural influence and converts. While heritage Buddhists remain the majority of the US population, there is a significant rise in “Meditation-oriented” practitioners who may not always identify as “Buddhist” on a formal census but follow the philosophy.
How many Buddhists are there in the world?
Current estimates place the number between 320 million and 350 million, representing roughly 4.1% of the total global population.