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Buddhists around the world

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 400 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 at least 91% identify with Buddhism as one of their religions.  This works out to 1.2 billion Chinese Buddhists.  To ignore over one billion people as if they do not count is a terrible mis-count and very misleading in the reporting of adherents.  The famous line says it best, "one billion Chinese can not be wrong."

There are also a number of people living in Europe and North America who consider themselves Buddhists, attend retreats once every few years, read dharma books regularly, but who do not have a sangha.  They also do not get counted in most lists.  Estimates based on book purchases and retreat attendance, put this number at about 100,000.

The following is the more accurate listing of Buddhists around the world with the inclusion of the above-mentioned people:

China                                                            1,200,000,000
Japan                                                               115,200,000
Other countries not listed here, mostly Asian     100,000,000
Vietnam                                                             74,664,000
Thailand                                                             68,400,000
Myanmar (Burma)                                              20,613,000
Sri Lanka                                                           15,288,000
Cambodia                                                          11,702,000
India                                                                  11,000,000
USA                                                                    5,000,000
France                                                                    700,000
Germany                                                                 200,000
Great Britain                                                            180,000
Australia                                                                  150,000
Italy                                                                           85,000
Europeans and N. Americans w/out a sangha            100,000
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Total Buddhists in the world                            1,623,282,000  (over 1.6 billion)