This list of Buddhism by country shows the distribution of the Buddhist religion, practiced by about 535 million people as of the 2010s, representing 7% to 8% of the world's total population.
Buddhism is the official religion in four countries, Bhutan, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. The religion also holds a special status in two countries, Thailand and Laos.
Buddhism is the majority religion in Bhutan, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Mongolia, and Laos. It is also the dominant religion in certain nations or territories without any majority religion, such as Mainland China, Hong Kong, Japan Tibet, Macau, Singapore, Taiwan, Kalmykia, and Vietnam. Large Buddhist populations live in North Korea, Nepal, India and South Korea. China is the country with the largest population of Buddhists, approximately 244 million or 18.2% of its total population. 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. The second largest body of Buddhist schools is Theravada, mostly followed in Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka. The third largest body of schools Vajrayana, is followed mostly in Tibet, Bhutan, Nepal, Mongolia and parts of Russia, but is disseminated throughout the world. The fourth largest body of Buddhist schools is Navayana, mostly followed in Maharashtra, India.
By country
By region
Ten countries with the largest Buddhist populations
See also
Neo-Confucianism
East Asian Buddhism
Buddhism and Eastern religions
Other religions: Hinduism by country Sikhism by country Christianity by country Islam by country Judaism by country Baháʼí Faith by country
General: List of religious populations Religions by country
