Buddhism in the world is practiced by an estimated 488 million, 495 million, or 535 million people

as of the 2010s, representing 7% to 8% of the world's total population.

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 practiced in broader East Asia, is followed by

over half of world Buddhists.

The second largest body of Buddhist schools is Theravada, mostly followed in Southeast Asia. The

third and smallest body of schools, Vajrayana, is followed mostly in Tibet, Mongolia and parts

of Russia, but has been disseminated throughout the world.

According to a demographic analysis reported by Peter Harvey (2013):

Eastern Buddhism (Mahayana) has 360 million adherents;

Southern Buddhism (Theravada) has 150 million adherents; and

Northern Buddhism (Vajrayana) has 18,2 million adherents.

Seven million additional Buddhists are found outside of Asia.

By region

Buddhism by region in 2010

RegionEstimated total

population

Estimated Buddhist

population %

Asia-Pacific 4,054,990,000 481,290,000 11.9%

North America 344,530,000 3,860,000 1.1%

Europe 742,550,000 1,330,000 0.2%

Middle East-North Africa 341,020,000 500,000 0.1%

Buddhism by region in 2010

RegionEstimated total

population

Estimated Buddhist

population %

Latin America-

Caribbean590,080,000 410,000 <0.1%

Total 6,895,890,000 487,540,000 7.1%

Ten countries with the largest Buddhist populations

Countries with the largest Buddhist populations as of 2010

Country

Estimated

Buddhist

population

 % of the total

population of the

country

 % of world

Buddhist

population

China 244,130,000 18.2% 50.1%

Thailand 64,420,000 93.2% 13.2%

Japan 45,820,000 36.2% 9.4%

Burma 38,410,000 80.1% 7.9%

Countries with the largest Buddhist populations as of 2010

Country

Estimated

Buddhist

population

 % of the total

population of the

country

 % of world

Buddhist

population

Sri Lanka 14,450,000 69.3% 3%

Vietnam 14,380,000 16.4% 2.9%

Cambodia 13,690,000 96.9% 2.8%

South Korea 11,050,000 22.9% 2.3%

India 9,250,000 0.8% 1.9%

Malaysia 5,010,000 17.7% 1%

Subtotal for the ten

countries460,620,000 15.3% 94.5%

Subtotal for the rest

of the world26,920,000 0.7% 5.5%

World total 487,540,000 7.1% 100%