Buddhism vs Shinto

Pew Research Center estimated about 324 million Buddhists worldwide in 2020, down from about 343 million in 2010, though estimates vary significantly depending on how practitioners are counted. In countries like Japan and China, where Buddhism overlaps with other traditions (Shinto and folk religion, respectively), precise numbers are difficult to establish. [1][7][4]

By Pew Research Center's 2020 estimate, Thailand has the largest number of Buddhists, about 68 million, 94% of its population; the global decline since 2010 came largely from China (down 23 million) and Japan (down 7 million). Other countries with large Buddhist populations include China, Myanmar, Japan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, South Korea and Taiwan, though counts in China and Japan vary widely with how practitioners are defined. [7][1][4]

Theravada Buddhism predominates in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Mahayana Buddhism is the dominant form in China, Japan, South Korea, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism is practiced in Tibet, Mongolia, Bhutan, and parts of Nepal and India. [2][3]

Buddhism has grown significantly in Western countries since the mid-20th century, driven by immigration from Buddhist-majority countries, Western interest in meditation, and the influence of teachers like the Dalai Lama and Thich Nhat Hanh. Secular mindfulness practices derived from Buddhist meditation have become widespread in healthcare, education, and corporate settings. [1][2][3]

Shinto adherent counts are uniquely difficult to establish due to the nature of Japanese religious practice. [1][4][5]

Formal membership figures reported by Shinto organizations total approximately 3 to 4 million. However, surveys consistently show that the vast majority of Japanese people participate in Shinto practices, shrine visits, festivals, life-cycle rituals, without necessarily identifying as "Shinto" in the way that a Christian might identify as Christian. [1][4][5]

The Association of Shinto Shrines (Jinja Honcho) oversees approximately 80,000 shrines across Japan. An estimated 80 million people visit shrines during the New Year period alone. These figures suggest that Shinto practice is far more widespread than formal adherent counts indicate. [2][3][1][4][5]

Shinto is almost exclusively practiced in Japan, with very limited presence outside the country. Small Shinto shrines exist in Hawaii, Brazil, and a few other locations with significant Japanese diaspora communities. Some non-Japanese individuals have adopted Shinto practices, but this remains rare. [1][4][2][3]

The relationship between Shinto and Buddhism in Japan is one of the most distinctive features of Japanese religious life. Most Japanese participate in both traditions without perceiving a contradiction, a pattern sometimes described as "born Shinto, die Buddhist". [2][3]