Buddhism’s Recent Decline in East Asia

Buddhism is the only major religion in the world with a falling number of adherents, according to Pew Research Center estimates for 2010 and 2020. This decline is largely driven by changes in East Asia, where many people who were raised Buddhist no longer identify with the religion. In this data essay, we discuss various factors contributing to Buddhism’s decline in Japan and South Korea, drawing on interviews conducted in Tokyo and Seoul in 2024. Our fieldwork offers rich insights into how and why people in Japan and South Korea are drifting away from Buddhism.