Buddhist population shrinks as East Asias low birth rate begins to take toll

Exceptionally low birth rates across Northeast Asia are beginning to have a tangible impact on the global religious landscape, as Buddhism — long a major faith in the region — is shrinking, a study found. According to a Pew Research Center study released Tuesday, an analysis of data from 201 countries and territories showed that Buddhism was the only major religion to see a decline in the number of followers. The global Buddhist population fell to 324 million in 2020, down from 343 million in 2010 — a decrease of 19 million, or 5.4 percent. The decline stands in stark contrast to Christianity and Islam, which saw their numbers rise by 122 million and 347 million, respectively, over the same period. Pew Research Center analyzed demographic shifts in the East Asian region and changes in the share of believers to have contributed to the decline in the Buddhist population. The primary factors were identified as low birth rates and aging societies in East Asia, where these trends are unfolding at one of the fastest rates in the world. According to the research center, 98 percent of the

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