10 Countries with the Most Buddhists

Buddhism remains one of the world's major religions, with hundreds of millions of followers concentrated primarily across Asia.

Despite a slight global decline in the number of Buddhists during the previous decade, several countries continued to serve as important centers of Buddhist culture, tradition, and practice. In 2020, ten countries accounted for the vast majority of the world's Buddhist population.

Thailand ranked first with approximately 67.6 million Buddhists. Buddhism plays a central role in Thai society, culture, and national identity, with the vast majority of the population adhering to the Theravada tradition. Temples, monks, and Buddhist festivals remain deeply integrated into everyday life throughout the country.

China ranked second with 53.4 million Buddhists. Although Buddhists make up a minority of China's enormous population, the country remains home to one of the world's largest Buddhist communities. Chinese Buddhism has a long history dating back nearly two millennia and continues to influence Chinese culture and philosophy.

Myanmar followed closely with 47.2 million Buddhists. Like Thailand, Myanmar is predominantly Theravada Buddhist, and religious institutions play a significant role in education, community life, and cultural traditions.

Japan ranked fourth with 47.0 million Buddhists. Japanese Buddhism combines several schools and traditions, many of which have shaped the country's art, architecture, and spiritual practices for centuries. Buddhism often coexists with Shinto beliefs among many Japanese citizens.

Vietnam occupied fifth place with 22.6 million Buddhists. Vietnamese Buddhism reflects a blend of Mahayana traditions and local cultural influences, making it one of the country's most important religious traditions.

Cambodia ranked sixth with 16.2 million Buddhists. Theravada Buddhism is the state religion and forms a cornerstone of Cambodian national identity. Similarly, Sri Lanka placed seventh with 15.7 million Buddhists and remains one of the most historically significant centers of Theravada Buddhism.

South Korea ranked eighth with 9.9 million Buddhists. Although Christianity and secularism have grown in recent decades, Buddhism continues to exert considerable cultural and historical influence throughout the country.

India, the birthplace of Buddhism, ranked ninth with 9.5 million Buddhists. While Buddhists represent a small minority of India's population, the country remains home to many of Buddhism's most sacred sites, including Bodh Gaya and Sarnath.

Malaysia completed the top ten with 6.4 million Buddhists. The country's Buddhist population consists primarily of ethnic Chinese communities, contributing to Malaysia's rich religious diversity.

Together, these ten countries represented the heartland of global Buddhism in 2020, preserving traditions that have shaped Asian civilizations and continue to influence millions of people around the world.