Misplaced Pages

Buddhism in the Middle East: Difference between revisions

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Browse history interactively← Previous editContent deleted Content addedVisualWikitext
Revision as of 11:46, 23 June 2012 editTakeaway (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers, Rollbackers18,258 edits →History: removed incorrect content← Previous edit Latest revision as of 14:58, 19 November 2024 edit undo108.51.56.162 (talk) →See also 
(123 intermediate revisions by 59 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|none}} <!-- This short description is INTENTIONALLY "none" - please see WP:SDNONE before you consider changing it! -->
It is estimated that in '''the Middle East''' around 900,000 people, perhaps more, profess ''']''' as their religion. Buddhist adherents make up just over 0.3% of the total population of the Middle East. Many of these Buddhists are workers who have migrated from Asia to the Middle East in the last 20 years, many from countries that have large Buddhist populations, such as ], ], ], ], ] and ]. A small number of engineers, company directors, and managers from ], ], ], ], and ] have also moved to the Middle East.

{{Buddhism}} {{Buddhism}}
Buddhism has been present in the Middle East and influenced some Middle Eastern religions such as ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Tokyürek |first=Hacer |date=2019-10-17 |title=Eski Uygurca Metinlere Göre Budizmin Manihaizme Etkisi |url=https://turkishstudies.net/?mod=makale_tr_ozet&makale_id=16000 |journal=Journal of Turkish Studies |language=tr |volume=7 |issue=4–II |pages=2889–2906 |doi=10.7827/TurkishStudies.4105|doi-access=free }}</ref> Buddhism, per some estimates by early medieval Muslim scholars such as ], was present from Eastern ancient ] up to the frontier of ] before the advent of ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Akasoy |first=Anna |date=2019-03-06 |title=Islam and Buddhism: The Arabian Prequel? |url=https://er.ceres.rub.de/index.php/ER/article/view/7395 |journal=Entangled Religions |language=en |volume=8 |pages=1–32 |doi=10.13154/er.v8.2019.1-32 |issn=2363-6696}}</ref>


Al-Biruni has the following detailed account to offer: “Another circumstance which increased the already existing antagonism between ] and foreigners is that the so-called Shamaniyya , though they cordially hate the ], still are nearer akin to them than to others. In former times, ] , ] , ], ], the country up to the frontier of ], was Buddhist”. <ref>{{Cite journal |last=Akasoy |first=Anna |date=2019-03-06 |title=Islam and Buddhism: The Arabian Prequel? |url=https://er.ceres.rub.de/index.php/ER/article/view/7395 |journal=Entangled Religions |language=en |volume=8 |pages=1–32 |doi=10.13154/er.v8.2019.1-32 |issn=2363-6696}}</ref>
==History==
] (Devanāgarī: अशोक, IAST: Aśoka, IPA: , ca. 304–232 BC), also known as Ashoka the Great, was an Indian emperor of the ] who ruled almost all of the Indian subcontinent from ca. 269 BC to 232 BC. He embraced Buddhism after witnessing the mass deaths of the ], which he himself had waged out of a desire for conquest. After the Kalinga War, the Empire experienced half a century of peace and security under Ashoka. Mauryan India also enjoyed an era of social harmony, religious transformation, and expansion of the sciences and of knowledge. Chandragupta Maurya's embrace of ] increased social and religious renewal and reform across his society, while Ashoka's embrace of Buddhism has been said to have been the foundation of the reign of social and political peace and non-violence across all of India. Ashoka sponsored the spreading of ] into ], ], ], ] and ].<ref>http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/FeaturesFarEast/India_IronAge_Mauryas01.htm</ref>


There still remains a tiny community of Middle Eastern followers of Buddhism, though unrecognized by the state governments in the region, including in ] and ].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2013 Report on International Religious Freedom - Lebanon |url=https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/usdos/2014/en/100801 |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=Refworld |language=en}}</ref>
Ashoka was a devotee of ] (nonviolence), love, truth, tolerance and vegetarianism. Ashoka is remembered in history as a philanthropic administrator. In the history of India, Ashoka is referred to as Samraat Chakravartin Ashoka – the "Emperor of Emperors Ashoka".
].]]
Ashoka played a critical role in helping make Buddhism a ].<ref>http://www.tibethouse.us/programs/view/102312/4</ref> As the peace-loving ruler of one of the world's largest, richest and most powerful multi-ethnic states, he is considered an exemplary ruler, who tried to put into practice a secular state ethic of non-violence.
].]]
Ashoka believed that Buddhism is beneficial for all human beings as well as animals and plants, so he built 84,000 stupas, Sangharama, viharas, Chaitya, and residences for Buddhist monks all over South Asia and Central Asia. Ashoka also sent many prominent Buddhist monks (bhikshus) Sthaviras like Madhyamik Sthavira to modern Kashmir and Afghanistan; Maharaskshit Sthavira to Syria, Persia / Iran, Egypt, Greece, Italy and Turkey; Massim Sthavira to Nepal, Bhutan, China and Mongolia; Sohn Uttar Sthavira to modern Cambodia, Laos, Burma (old name Suvarnabhumi for Burma and Thailand), Thailand and Vietnam; Mahadhhamarakhhita stahvira to Maharashtra (old name Maharatthha); Maharakhhit Sthavira and Yavandhammarakhhita Sthavira to South India. Ashoka also invited Buddhists and non-Buddhists for religious conferences. Ashoka inspired the Buddhist monks to compose the sacred religious texts, and also gave all types of help to that end. Ashoka also helped to develop viharas (intellectual hubs) such as Nalanda and Taxila. Ashoka helped to construct Sanchi and Mahabodhi Temple. Ashoka never tried to harm or to destroy non-Buddhist religions, and indeed gave donations to non-Buddhists. Under his reign Buddhism and other Indian religions had spread to all of Asia. After his reign, Buddhism had become the dominant religion in Central Asia, East Asia, Sri Lanka and South East Asia. Buddhism may have influenced early Christianity.<ref>http://www.mountainrunnerdoc.com/page/page/4634589.htm</ref><ref>http://www.frimmin.com/faith/lotuscross.php</ref><ref>http://www.edge.org/3rd_culture/pagels03/pagels_index.html</ref> (See ])
It is estimated that in the Middle East, over 900,000 people profess ] as their religion. Buddhist adherents make up just over 0.3% of the Middle East total population. Many of these Buddhists are workers who have migrated from other parts of Asia to the Middle East since the late 1990s, many of them come from countries that have large Buddhist populations, such as ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ].


==Demographics== ==Demographics==
] is the predominant religion of workers from Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia. ] is the predominant religion of workers from East Asia and Vietnam, although ], ], and ] are also represented among these people. ] is the predominant religion of workers from Thailand and Sri Lanka. ] is the predominant religion of workers from East Asia and Vietnam, although ], ], and ] are also represented among these people. In ] (the ])<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.emirates247.com/lankans-in-dubai-to-celebrate-vesak-2011-05-05-1.389291|periodical=Emirates 24/7|title=Lankans in Dubai to celebrate 'Vesak'|date=2011-05-05|access-date=2013-07-22|archive-date=2021-06-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210611233331/https://www.emirates247.com/lankans-in-dubai-to-celebrate-vesak-2011-05-05-1.389291|url-status=live}}</ref> and ],<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,8150,0,0,1,0#.Ue2G8tLIZIM|periodical=The Peninsula|title=Sri Lankans celebrate Vesak in Qatar|date=2009-05-09|access-date=2013-07-22|archive-date=2021-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210227222350/https://www.buddhistchannel.tv/index.php?id=71,8150,0,0,1,0#.Ue2G8tLIZIM|url-status=live}}</ref> the workers from Sri Lanka were allowed to celebrate ] (the most important holiday in Buddhism) in those ] countries.


==Buddhism in Saudi Arabia== ==Saudi Arabia==
{{main|Buddhism in Saudi Arabia}}
The ]'s ''International Religious Freedom Report 2007'' estimates that more than 8 million foreigners are living and working in ], including Muslims and non-Muslims.
It is estimated that there are 13.49 million foreign residents living and working in ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-04-20 |title=Saudi Arabia (KSA) Population Statistics {{!}} GMI |url=https://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/saudi-arabia-population-statistics/ |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=Official GMI Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212033448/https://www.globalmediainsight.com/blog/saudi-arabia-population-statistics/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


In addition to 400,000 ], there are a few thousand Buddhist workers from ], the majority of whom are ], ], and ]. A number of ]-] immigrants may also be among the foreign population of Saudi Arabia. In addition to 400,000 ], there are a few thousand Buddhist workers from ], the majority of whom are ], ], and ]. A number of ]-] immigrants may also be among the foreign population of Saudi Arabia. According to a 2020 report by the ], Buddhists make up about 0.33% of the Saudi population with comprehensive data on foreigners being unavailable.<ref>{{Cite web |access-date=October 15, 2023 |title=National / Regional Profiles, Included Nations/Regions: Saudi Arabia , Western Asia , The World |url=https://www.thearda.com/world-religion/national-profiles?u=196c |website=]}}</ref>


==Qatar==
Thus approximately 1.5% of Saudi Arabia's population – or around 400,000 people – are Buddhist, likely giving Saudi Arabia the largest Buddhist community in either the ] or the ]<ref> Accessed 20 Nov 2008.</ref>
{{excerpt|Religion in Qatar|Buddhism}}
==Population by country==
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Buddhist percentages in the Middle East
|label1 = {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
|value1 = 45.9
|color1 = Green
|label2 = {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
|value2 = 24.6
|color2 = White
|label3 = {{flag|Kuwait}}
|value3 = 11.1
|color3 = Black
|label4 = {{flag|Turkey}}
|value4 = 7.9
|color4 = Red
|label5 = {{flag|Qatar}}
|value5 = 5
|color5 = Purple
|label6 = {{flag|Oman}}
|value6 = 3.6
|color6 = Orange
|label7 = {{flag|Bahrain}}
|value7 = 0.8
|color7= Yellow
|label8 = {{flag|Israel}}
|value8 = 0.7
|color8 = Blue
|label9 = {{flag|Lebanon}}
|value9 = 0.4
|color9 = Pink
}}


==Buddhism in Israel==
For many years it has been custom for Israeli soldiers upon completing their compulsory active duty service to travel to international destinations. Their most preferred destination has been India and many Israelis have discovered the wide array of spiritual teachings and practices India has to offer.<ref>http://www.wavesofdevotion.com/journal/2002/05/</ref><ref>http://amma.org.il/</ref><ref>http://wwrn.org/</ref> Eventually some of these have found their way back to Israel to take root and grow on their own.<ref>http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-04-06/news/29388871_1_indo-israel-india-and-israel-diplomatic-relations</ref><ref>http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2007-07-02/india/27982151_1_israeli-backpackers-drug-abuse-jewish-settlements</ref> A growing number of Israelis are converting to Buddhism.<ref>http://www.aish.com/sp/so/48905982.html</ref> A large demographic of Jewish Buddhists, constituting its majority, still maintain religious practices and beliefs in Judaism coupled with Buddhist practices and perhaps beliefs.<ref>http://www.jewishaz.com/jewishnews/980130/books.shtml</ref>

==Buddhism in Iran==
Buddhists were persecuted during the Sasanid rule in the region, who made ] state religion in 224 AD, and thereafter burned many Buddhist sites. Surviving Buddhist sites were later raided in the 5th century by the White Huns.<ref>http://books.google.no/books?id=y7IHmyKcPtYC&pg=PA956&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false</ref> At the time of the Arab conquests in the mid-7th century, much of the eastern Iranian world was mainly Buddhist. Afghanistan is rich in Buddhist sites; others have been found in Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and within Iran itself. The Arab conquests brought the final demise of Buddhism in Eastern Iran and Afghanistan, although in some sites like Bamyian and Hadda it survived until the 8th or 9th century.<ref>http://books.google.no/books?id=y7IHmyKcPtYC&pg=PA956&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false</ref>
Mongol ruler Ghazan, who received Buddhist education in his youth, converted to Islam in 1310 AD and made it the state religion of the Ilkhanate.<ref>http://books.google.no/books?id=Js8qHFVw2gEC&pg=PA86&lpg=PA86&q=&hl=no#v=onepage&q&f=false</ref> He also prohibited the practice of Buddhism, but allowed monks to go into exile into neighboring Buddhist regions.<ref>http://books.google.no/books?id=ZfWXIfbynwYC&pg=PA10&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false</ref>

In recent years Buddhism has experienced an upsurge of interest among Iranians. Some of the poetry of Sohrab Sepehri shows Buddhist influence, and another major contemporary poet, Ahmad Shamlou, translated a book of Japanese haiku poetry into Persian.

==Buddhist population by country==
{| class="sortable wikitable" {| class="sortable wikitable"
|+<big> '''] by country in the ]''' </big> |+<big> '''] by country in the ]''' </big>
|- |-
! Country ! Country
! Population (2007E) ! Population (2022)
! % of Buddhists ! % of Buddhists
! Buddhist total ! Buddhist total


|- |-
| ] | {{flag|United Arab Emirates}}
| align="right" | {{Sort|004444011|4,444,011}} | align="right" |9,441,129
| align="center" | {{Sort|00500|5%}}<ref>{{cite web | align="center" | 2.40%<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71434.htm |url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71434.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report: United Arab Emirates }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=International Religious Freedom Report: United Arab Emirates
|access-date=2019-05-23
|url=http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=10
|archive-date=2021-01-10
|title=Country Profiles }}</ref>
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110133731/https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71434.htm
| align="right" | 222,201
|url-status=live
}}</ref>
| align="right" | 210,000


|- |-
| ] | {{flag|Qatar}}
| align="right" | {{Sort|000907229|907,229}} | align="right" | 2,695,122
| align="center" | 3.80%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhist Countries 2022 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=worldpopulationreview.com |archive-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212194955/https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | {{Sort|00500|5%}}<ref>{{cite web
| align="right" | 90,000
|url=http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5437.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report: Qatar }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/qa.html
|title=CIA World FactBook: Qatar }}</ref>
| align="right" | 45,361


|- |-
| ] | {{flag|Kuwait}}
| align="right" | {{Sort|002505559|2,505,559}} | align="right" | 4,268,873
| align="center" | 5.40%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhist Countries 2022 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=worldpopulationreview.com |archive-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212194955/https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | {{Sort|00400|4%}}<ref>{{cite web
| align="right" | 180,000
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71425.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report: Kuwait }}</ref>
| align="right" | 100,222


|- |-
| ] | {{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
| align="right" | {{Sort|027601038|27,601,038}} | align="right" |36,408,820
| align="center" | .40%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhist Countries 2022 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=worldpopulationreview.com |archive-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212194955/https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | {{Sort|00150|1.5%}}<ref>{{cite web
| align="right" | 130,000
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90220.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report: Saudi Arabia }}</ref>
| align="right" | 414,016


|- |-
| ] | {{flag|Bahrain}}
| align="right" | {{Sort|000753000|753,000}} | align="right" | 1,472,233
| align="center" | 3.10%<ref name="pewforum.org">{{Cite web |title=Buddhist Countries 2022 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=worldpopulationreview.com |archive-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212194955/https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | {{Sort|00100|1%}}<ref>{{cite web
| align="right" | 50,000
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71419.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report: Bahrain }}</ref>
| align="right" | 7,530


|- |-
| ] | {{flag|Oman}}
| align="right" | {{Sort|003204897|3,204,897}} | align="right" | {{Sort|003204897|3,204,897}}
| align="center" | .70%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhist Countries 2022 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=worldpopulationreview.com |archive-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212194955/https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | {{Sort|00100|1%}}<ref>{{cite web
| align="right" | 20,000
|url=http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Oman/rbodies.html
|title=Religious Freedom Nation Profile: Oman }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk/country/?CountryID=36
|title=Religious Freedom Nation Profile: Oman }}</ref>
| align="right" | 32,049


|- |-
| ] | {{flag|Israel}}
| align="right" | {{Sort|006426679|6,426,679}} | align="right" |9,038,309
| align="center" | .30%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhist Countries 2022 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=worldpopulationreview.com |archive-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212194955/https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | {{Sort|00010|0.1%}}<ref>{{cite web
| align="right" | 20,000
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71423.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report: Israel }}</ref>
| align="right" | 6,426


|- |-
| ] | {{flag|Lebanon}}
| align="right" | {{Sort|003925502|3,925,502}} | align="right" | 5,489,739
| align="center" | .20%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhist Countries 2022 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=worldpopulationreview.com |archive-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212194955/https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | {{Sort|00010|0.1%}}<ref>{{cite web
| align="right" | 10,000
|url=http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2006/71426.htm
|title=International Religious Freedom Report: Lebanon }}</ref>
<!--DEAD REF LINK http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=1&categ_id=1&article_id=86340 -->
| align="right" | 3,926


|- |-
| ] | {{flag|Turkey}}
| align="right" | {{Sort|071158647|71,158,647}} | align="right" | 85,341,241
| align="center" | .09%<ref>{{Cite web |title=Buddhist Countries 2022 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |access-date=2022-12-12 |website=worldpopulationreview.com |archive-date=2022-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221212194955/https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/buddhist-countries |url-status=live }}</ref>
| align="center" | {{Sort|00010|0.1%}}<ref>{{cite web
| align="right" | 40,000
|url=http://religiousfreedom.lib.virginia.edu/nationprofiles/Turkey/rbodies.html
|title=Religious Freedom Nation Profile: Turkey }}</ref>
| align="right" | 71,159
|- bgcolor=#99FFFF |- bgcolor=#99FFFF
! {{Sort|ZZZZ|Total}} ! {{Sort|ZZZZ|Total}}
! 285,194,911 ! 157,360,363
! 1.82%
! {{Sort|00032|0.32%}}
! 902,890 ! 750,000
|} |}


==External links== == See also ==
{{Portal|Religion}}
{{Portalbox|Buddhism|Middle East}}
* ]
*
* ]
* ]


==References== ==References==
<references /> <references />
* The U.S. State Department's
*
*
*


==External links==
*
* The U.S. State Department's
* {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130510200259/https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/ |date=2013-05-10 }}
*
*


{{Buddhism topics}} {{Buddhism topics}}
{{Middle East topic|title=Buddhism in the Middle East|Buddhism in}}
{{Asia in topic|Buddhism in}} {{Asia in topic|Buddhism in}}


] ]
] ]
]

{{Buddhism-stub}}
{{MEast-stub}}

]

Latest revision as of 14:58, 19 November 2024

Part of a series on
Buddhism
History
Buddhist texts
Practices
Nirvāṇa
Traditions
Buddhism by country

Buddhism has been present in the Middle East and influenced some Middle Eastern religions such as Manichaeism. Buddhism, per some estimates by early medieval Muslim scholars such as Al-Biruni, was present from Eastern ancient Persia up to the frontier of Syria before the advent of Islam.

Al-Biruni has the following detailed account to offer: “Another circumstance which increased the already existing antagonism between Hindus and foreigners is that the so-called Shamaniyya , though they cordially hate the Brahmans, still are nearer akin to them than to others. In former times, Khorasan , Fars , Iraq, Mosul, the country up to the frontier of Syria, was Buddhist”.

There still remains a tiny community of Middle Eastern followers of Buddhism, though unrecognized by the state governments in the region, including in Lebanon and Iran.

Site of the larger statue after it was destroyed by the Taliban.
Site of the smaller statue in 2005. It was destroyed by the Taliban.

It is estimated that in the Middle East, over 900,000 people profess Buddhism as their religion. Buddhist adherents make up just over 0.3% of the Middle East total population. Many of these Buddhists are workers who have migrated from other parts of Asia to the Middle East since the late 1990s, many of them come from countries that have large Buddhist populations, such as South Korea, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, Japan, and Nepal.

Demographics

Theravada Buddhism is the predominant religion of workers from Thailand and Sri Lanka. Mahayana Buddhism is the predominant religion of workers from East Asia and Vietnam, although Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto are also represented among these people. In Dubai (the United Arab Emirates) and Qatar, the workers from Sri Lanka were allowed to celebrate Vesak (the most important holiday in Buddhism) in those Islamic countries.

Saudi Arabia

Main article: Buddhism in Saudi Arabia

It is estimated that there are 13.49 million foreign residents living and working in Saudi Arabia.

In addition to 400,000 Sri Lankans, there are a few thousand Buddhist workers from East Asia, the majority of whom are Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai. A number of Tibetan-Nepalese immigrants may also be among the foreign population of Saudi Arabia. According to a 2020 report by the Association of Religion Data Archives, Buddhists make up about 0.33% of the Saudi population with comprehensive data on foreigners being unavailable.

Qatar

This section is an excerpt from Religion in Qatar § Buddhism. In 2020, Buddhism was represented by between 1.8-3.8% of the population of Qatar, mainly comprising migrant workers from South-East Asia and East Asia especially from China, South Korea, Japan, and Vietnam.

Population by country

Buddhist percentages in the Middle East

   Saudi Arabia (45.9%)   United Arab Emirates (24.6%)   Kuwait (11.1%)   Turkey (7.9%)   Qatar (5%)   Oman (3.6%)   Bahrain (0.8%)   Israel (0.7%)   Lebanon (0.4%)
Buddhism by country in the Middle East
Country Population (2022) % of Buddhists Buddhist total
 United Arab Emirates 9,441,129 2.40% 210,000
 Qatar 2,695,122 3.80% 90,000
 Kuwait 4,268,873 5.40% 180,000
 Saudi Arabia 36,408,820 .40% 130,000
 Bahrain 1,472,233 3.10% 50,000
 Oman 3,204,897 .70% 20,000
 Israel 9,038,309 .30% 20,000
 Lebanon 5,489,739 .20% 10,000
 Turkey 85,341,241 .09% 40,000
Total 157,360,363 1.82% 750,000

See also

References

  1. Tokyürek, Hacer (2019-10-17). "Eski Uygurca Metinlere Göre Budizmin Manihaizme Etkisi". Journal of Turkish Studies (in Turkish). 7 (4–II): 2889–2906. doi:10.7827/TurkishStudies.4105.
  2. Akasoy, Anna (2019-03-06). "Islam and Buddhism: The Arabian Prequel?". Entangled Religions. 8: 1–32. doi:10.13154/er.v8.2019.1-32. ISSN 2363-6696.
  3. Akasoy, Anna (2019-03-06). "Islam and Buddhism: The Arabian Prequel?". Entangled Religions. 8: 1–32. doi:10.13154/er.v8.2019.1-32. ISSN 2363-6696.
  4. "2013 Report on International Religious Freedom - Lebanon". Refworld. Retrieved 2024-07-06.
  5. "Lankans in Dubai to celebrate 'Vesak'", Emirates 24/7, 2011-05-05, archived from the original on 2021-06-11, retrieved 2013-07-22
  6. "Sri Lankans celebrate Vesak in Qatar", The Peninsula, 2009-05-09, archived from the original on 2021-02-27, retrieved 2013-07-22
  7. "Saudi Arabia (KSA) Population Statistics [2022 Updated] | GMI". Official GMI Blog. 2022-04-20. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  8. "National / Regional Profiles, Included Nations/Regions: Saudi Arabia [x], Western Asia [x], The World [x]". Association of Religion Data Archives. Retrieved October 15, 2023.
  9. US State Dept 2022 report
  10. The ARDA website, retrieved 2023-08-28
  11. "International Religious Freedom Report: United Arab Emirates". Archived from the original on 2021-01-10. Retrieved 2019-05-23.
  12. "Buddhist Countries 2022". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  13. "Buddhist Countries 2022". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  14. "Buddhist Countries 2022". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  15. "Buddhist Countries 2022". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  16. "Buddhist Countries 2022". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  17. "Buddhist Countries 2022". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  18. "Buddhist Countries 2022". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  19. "Buddhist Countries 2022". worldpopulationreview.com. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.

External links

   Topics in Buddhism   
Foundations
The Buddha
Bodhisattvas
Disciples
Key concepts
Cosmology
Branches
Practices
Nirvana
Monasticism
Major figures
Texts
Countries
History
Philosophy
Culture
Miscellaneous
Comparison
Lists
Buddhism in the Middle East
Buddhism in Asia
Sovereign states
States with
limited recognition
Dependencies and
other territories
Categories: