Buddhism is one of the world's major religions, with approximately 500 million followers globally. Based on recent data from Pew Research Center and World Population Review, here are the 10 countries with the largest Buddhist populations.
Global Buddhist Population Rankings (in millions)
Rank Country Buddhist Population Key Characteristics
1 China 254.7 World's largest Buddhist population, Tibetan Buddhism center
2 Thailand 66.1 Over 95% of population practices Buddhism
3 Myanmar 41.4 Strong Theravada Buddhist traditions
4 Japan 41.4 Mahayana Buddhism with Shinto influences
5 Cambodia 15.7 Home to Angkor Wat and many Buddhist sites
6 Vietnam 15.6 Predominantly Mahayana Buddhism
7 Sri Lanka 15.4 One of the oldest Buddhist nations
8 South Korea 10.9 About 20% of population, strong cultural influence
9 India 10.1 Birthplace of Buddhism, now a minority religion
10 Malaysia 5.2 Buddhist community in a multi-religious society
Country-Specific Buddhist Characteristics
1st Place: China (254.7 million)
China has by far the largest Buddhist population globally. Tibetan Buddhism is prominent in the Tibet Autonomous Region, while Mahayana Buddhism is widespread among the Han Chinese. Despite government religious policies, Buddhism maintains significant influence.
2nd Place: Thailand (66.1 million)
Over 95% of Thailand's population practices Theravada Buddhism. Deeply connected to the monarchy, Buddhism forms the core of Thai culture. Most Thai men traditionally become monks for a period in their lives.
3rd Place: Myanmar (41.4 million)
Myanmar is another stronghold of Theravada Buddhism. The golden Shwedagon Pagoda and countless temples shape the country's national identity.
8th Place: South Korea (10.9 million)
South Korea has about 10.9 million Buddhists, representing approximately 20% of the population. Korean Buddhism is particularly known for its Seon (Zen) tradition and has produced numerous cultural heritage sites including Tongdosa, Songgwangsa, and Buseoksa temples.
Interesting Facts
• India's Paradox: Though Buddhism originated in India, Buddhists now constitute less than 1% of India's population due to Hinduism's dominance and historical changes.
• Japan's Unique Blend: Japanese Buddhism developed distinct characteristics by blending with Shinto, deeply influencing modern Japanese daily life.
• Southeast Asia's Dominance: Five of the top 10 countries (Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia) are in Southeast Asia, where Buddhism wields enormous cultural influence.
Conclusion
While these statistics show absolute numbers of Buddhist adherents by country, the relative importance and cultural influence of Buddhism varies significantly. In Thailand or Cambodia, Buddhism forms the core of national identity, while in China or India it's just one among many religions.
With over 2,500 years of history, Buddhism continues to profoundly influence hundreds of millions of lives today. These rankings provide more than just numbers - they help us understand an important axis of Asian culture and spiritual history. For South Korea, the 8th place ranking doesn't fully reflect Buddhism's tremendous impact on Korean culture, arts, and philosophy throughout history.
