Major Traditions in Buddhism

BUDDHISTS AROUND THE WORLD

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Asia507,237,000

Oceania778,000

Europe1,909,000

North America4,734,000

Latin America812,000

Africa283,000

2015

Infographic: Center for the Study of Global Christianity Source: Todd M. Johnson and Brian J. Grim, eds. World Religion Database. Leiden/Boston: Brill; accessed January 2016.

Infographic: Center for the Study of Global Christianity

Largest Population of Buddhists in 2015 Highest Percentage of Buddhists in 2015 Fastest Growth of Buddhists, 2000-2015*

Thailand

Cambodia

Bhutan

Myanmar

Sri Lanka

Japan

Mongolia

Laos

Viet Nam

Taiwan

China

Japan

Thailand

Viet Nam

Myanmar

Sri Lanka

Cambodia

South Korea

India

Taiwan

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Qatar

Mozambique

United Arab Emirates

Iran

Cameroon

Chad

Uganda

Bahrain

Oman

Kenya

218,088,000

70,593,000

59,271,000

45,981,000

40,088,000

14,257,000

13,455,000

12,477,000

9,309,000

6,189,000

87.2%

86.4%

84.0%

74.4%

68.8%

55.8%

55.7%

52.4%

49.2%

26.5%

9.2%

7.4%

7.3%

6.0%

5.4%

5.1%

5.0%

4.7%

4.7%

4.7%

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The major traditions of Buddhism are Mahayana,

Theravada, and Tibetan. Mahayana Buddhism

encompasses many diversified sub-traditions of

the faith such as Zen, and thus adherents of the

tradition can be found worldwide. Adherents of

Theravada Buddhism are found largely in South-

eastern Asia. Tibetan Buddhism is concentrated

in Tibet, Mongolia, and parts of Russia.Mahayana71.5%

Theravada25.2%

Tibetan3.3%

Source: Todd M. Johnson and Brian J. Grim, eds. World Religion Database.Leiden/Boston: Brill; accessed January 2016.

In 2015

[in countries > 100,000 in population] [in countries > 100,000 in population]

The global fame of

the Dalai Lama,

the spiritual leader

of Tibetan

Buddhism, has

helped to flame

Western interest in

the tradition,

including its

growth in the USA

and beyond.

Statue of Gautama Buddha

*Average annual growth rate