Buddhists around the world

Aik TC SG

Buddhists around the world

Daily News Senaka WEERARATNE 2011-08-25

The number of Buddhists around the world is grossly underestimated. The statistics found in nearly all encyclopedias and almanacs place the number of Buddhists at approximately 500 million. This figure completely ignores over one billion Chinese people who live in the People’s Republic of China. China is officially communist (although many free market conditions are already in place) and does not keep records on religion statistics of adherents. Also, many western reference sources refuse to accept that a person can belong to more than one religion. In Asia it is quite common for one person to have two, three, or more religions. In China, it is common for a family to have a shrine in their home with statues and icons from Daoism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. Currently there are about 1.3 billion Chinese living in the People’s Republic. Surveys have found that about 8% to 91% identify with Buddhism as one of their religions. If we use a percent near the upper end of this estimate, of about 80% it works out to about 1.1 billion Chinese Buddhists. To ignore over one billion people as if they do not count is a terrible miscount and very misleading in the reporting of adherents. A Chinese Buddhist forum (bskk.com) currently has over 150,000 registered members and over 4 million posts, which is more than ten times the amount of the largest English language Buddhist forum (which also has Chinese Buddhists participating in the discussions). But to be fair, a more conservative estimate is also shown.

Here are some studies that have analyzed or counted the number of Buddhists in China and the percentage found in the study:

U.S. State Dept. report Approx. 8% to 40% (the report lists 8% but then states that there are “hundreds of millions” of Chinese who practice various religions together, which includes Buddhism).

The counting of Buddhists in America is also a little problematic since the U.S. Census Bureau does not ask religious affiliation. There are studies that suggest the percentage of Buddhists in America is as low as 0.5% and others that suggest over 3%. Some of the lower estimates claimed that about half of all Buddhists in America are white, European ancestry, which shows that the study was flawed. Any personal observation survey of Buddhism in America by attending meditation groups and temples will demonstrate that the vast majority of Buddhists in the U.S. are still predominantly Asian or Asian ancestry. Immigration to the U.S. from Asia has been very high due to favorable economic opportunities and more open immigration for those with technical skills, such as in the medical fields. Immigration from Asia ranges from about 0.5 million to 7 million per year and certainly a sizeable percentage of these immigrants are Buddhist.

Some other reports at the low end are going by official statistics from Buddhist organizations that count and in many of these estimates it is based on counting only one group, The Buddhist Churches of America (which is one of the few that counts their members). The BCA is just one sect inside the Pure Land school of Buddhism, which is a further sub-set of Mahayana, which is a sub-set of Buddhism in general. As far back as 1995 a study showed that 1.6% of the U.S. is Buddhist.

Only a few years later the number of Buddhist centers doubled, which suggests that the actual percent of Americans who are Buddhist is from 2% to 4%. See: R. Baumann, Univ. of Hannover Professor C. Prebish, Ph.D. has stated that 2% of the U.S. population is Buddhist and that most, about 80% of American Buddhists are of Asian descent (about 4.8 million out of 6 million American Buddhists), See: Utah State Univ., 2007. A conservative estimate of 2% is used for the number of Buddhists in America in the table below.

March 2007 update: Due to the debates and discussions that have occurred, some reference books and encyclopedias are finally recognizing that there are Buddhists in China. Some have stated that the survey suggesting that 91% are Buddhist is exaggerated, but at least some are now showing a sizeable percentage, such as over 60% over at Wikipedia. Therefore, included below is a liberal estimate using 80% and a more conservative estimate using a 50% figure.

Here is the Wikipedia estimate, which is compatible to the numbers shown here: Wikipedia List of religious populations

July 2009 update: The percentage and numbers for Buddhists in India has increased dramatically over recent years because there have many recent mass conversions of the Dalit (untouchables) from Hinduism to Buddhism. See: One of several mass conversions of over 50,000 and also this report: Newsweek, March 2008 India now 3.25% Buddhist.

A more accurate listing of Buddhists around the world with the inclusion of the above-mentioned people (percentage of the total population who are Buddhist is shown in parentheses) is given in the fact box.

The current number of Buddhists is therefore, about 1.2 to 1.6 billion which places it nearly equal with each of the two largest religions of Christianity and Islam. Even with the conservative estimate, it is still much higher than the 300 to 500 million still being placed in many references. It is important to know the true number to provide an accurate history and to know that we are not “alone” in our thinking and our practice.

What we really strive for is not more Buddhists, but more enlightened ones, so that we can have true peace inside and for the world.

Statistic

China, liberal estimate (80.00%) 1,070,893,447
China, conservative estimate (50.00%) 669,308,405
Japan (96.00%) 122,022,837
Thailand (95.00%) 62,626,649
India (3.25%) 37,913,134
Sri Lanka (70.00%) 14,933,050
Burma (90.00%) 43,323,967
Cambodia (95.00%) 13,769,578
Laos (75.00%) 5,126,207
Other Asian countries (16.00%) 213,492,875
Total Buddhists in Asia, liberal estimate 1,584,101,744
Total Buddhists in Asia, conservative estimate 1,182,516,701
USA (2.00%) 6,135,071
Canada and N. Amer. islands (1.10%) 368,447
Total Buddhists in N. America 6,503,518
Germany (1.10%) 905,657
France (1.20%) 773,215
United Kingdom (1.20%) 733,395
Other European countries (0.15%) 785,700
Total Buddhists in Europe 3,197,966
Total Buddhists
in Latin America and S. America (0.15%) 868,929
Total Buddhists
in Australia and Oceania (1.80%) 618,752
Total Buddhists in Africa (0.02%) 194,550
Total Buddhists in the world, liberal estimate 1,595,485,458
(about 1.6 billion)
Total Buddhists in the world,
conservative estimate 1,193,900,416
(about 1.2 billion)
Last updated: April 2010

Dawnfirstlight SG

Good article! I believe the number of Buddhists in Singapore is also under estimated. The papers said the number of Buddhists in Singapore is on the decline but in actual fact, those who go the temple frequently will realise that there are definitely more true Buddhists now compare to say 20 years ago.

Domo Kun SG

Singapore buddhists those who self proclaim in the 2011 Religion Census are not true buddhists.

Some who say they are buddhists din even take refuge in triple gems.

The 2011 Religion Census by government is false.

The government should ask the ppl did u take refuge in triple gems rather than asking what’s your religion.

My relative who din take refuge also say they are buddhists.

Domo Kun SG

Religion census is hard to survey.

Some ppl are toaists and they say they are buddhists. Like those who go Guan Ying Temple at bugis.

Christianity and Islam is easier to survey as there is less gray areas. Hinduism and freethinker also.

I believe true buddhists who take refuge are not alot in Singapore.

I don’t believe the government survey result on Buddhism and taoism.

I can accept Muslim. christians, catholics,hindus and freethinker only.

Domo Kun SG

Simple too many confusion between Taoism and Buddhism in SIngapore.

This two are too easily mixed up.

Domo Kun SG

I wrote an Email to the authourities.

I tell them you should survey the buddhists and toaists in the next 2021 Census more clearly.

For buddhists ask them did u take refuge in triple gems. This will filter all those fake buddhists.

Domo Kun SG

China harder to survey. Singapore also hard to survey.

In China maybe got ppl go buddhist temple pray go Taoists temple pray.

Too many confusion between buddhists and Taoists.

Aik TC SG

I think if would be rather restrictive if we are going to use the ‘Taking Refuge’ as the main criteria to identify whether a person is a Buddhist or not. Using this criteria as a reference to identify the population of Buddhists here would, I believe drastically reduced the actual count of Buddhists in any survey. I think there are many practicing and committed Buddhists here who for one reason or another may not have taken this ritual or may not see the necessity to do so.

A more acceptable way may be to ask whether one do carry out any Buddhist rituals or practice Buddhist meditation or have done some study of Buddhism as criteria to be considered as a Buddhist.

Domo Kun SG

You are correct. The problem is Singapore is the confusion between Taoism and Buddhism. Of course one of my relatives who died a few years ago. She chanted NAMO Guan Shi Ying Pu Sa everyday and dedicate merits to grandchildren. She be vegetarian also dedicate the merits to grandchildren. She never take refuge. Any method to filter Taoists and Buddhists is ok.

Domo Kun SG

I hope they next time they do the religion Census, Lesser confusion between taoism and buddhism.

From what I observed, still many confusion between these two.

Namo Amitabha Buddha. /\

Leogirldreamer SG

so simple, just add three more categories in the census. Taoists, Buddhists or both.

I don’t know why the questions are asked in only one way. Are you a Buddhist ?

why not, are you a buddhist, a taoist, or both.

Domo Kun SG

so simple, just add three more categories in the census. Taoists, Buddhists or both.

I don’t know why the questions are asked in only one way. Are you a Buddhist ?

why not, are you a buddhist, a taoist, or both.

I tell you chinese ppl religion hardest to trace. The numbers not very important. Don't care but since ppl post abt this topic, I reply them.