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,^[1][2] representing 7% to 8% of the world's total population. It also includes other entities such as some territories.

Buddhism is the State religion in four countries — Cambodia, Myanmar, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.^[3] The religion also holds a special status in two countries — Thailand and Laos.

Buddhism is the majority religion in Cambodia, Japan, Myanmar, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, and Mongolia. It is also the most followed religion in certain nations or territories without any majority religion, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong,^[4] Macau,^[5][2] Singapore,^[6] Taiwan, Vietnam,^[7] and Kalmykia in Russia. Large Buddhist populations live in North Korea, South Korea, Nepal, and India. China has the largest population of Buddhists, around 470 million or 33.3% of its total population according to the new data of 2023.^[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.^[8][9]