Buddhism is one of the largest religions in the world. It originated in India and is based around the teachings of Buddha. Buddhism has its unique traditions, practices, and beliefs. Those that practice Buddhism – known as Buddhists – believe in reincarnation. They believe that death is not the end, but instead, a person is reborn after they pass. Buddhists believe that finding enlightenment – or Nirvana – is the key to stopping the cycle of rebirth.
For some, Buddhism is a religion. For some, it is a philosophy. Others practice Buddhism to find themselves and experience inner peace. Buddhism is a religion that is practiced worldwide. It is believed that as many as 535 million people around the world practice this religion, which would represent between 8% and 10% of the world’s total population.
Several countries have a very high proportion of Buddhism followers. The country with the highest proportion is Cambodia. Of its population of over 15 million, about 13.7 million – or 96.9% of the total population – are Buddhists. Other countries that have a high percentage of Buddhist residents include:
- Thailand
- Myanmar
- Bhutan
- Sri Lanka
- Laos
- Mongolia
Each of the nations listed above has a Buddhist population that makes up at least 55% of the total population, making them Buddhist majority countries. However, these aren’t the only nations that have millions of Buddhist residents. The countries with Buddhist populations making up at least 10% of the total population include:
- Japan
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Taiwan
- Malaysia
- China
- Macau
- Vietnam
- Hong Kong
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Nepal
China has the highest number of Buddhists at around 244.1 million.