The Hindu Population
Hinduism is the world’s third largest religion. There are nearly 1 billion followers, which is 15% of the global population. Hinduism is the most geographically concentrated religion of the major world religions. The majority of Hindus, about 94%, live in India. About 2% of all Hindus live in Nepal, and 1% of Hindus live in Bangladesh.
Although more than 99% of all Hindus live in the Asia-Pacific region, only about 25% of the population in that region are Hindus. The percentages of various nations’ Hindu population are
As this statistics shows, believers of Hinduism can be found in countries far away from India. Traders and merchants were probably the cause of the spread of Hinduism to Southeast Asia during the first millennium C.E. The Hindu diaspora also occurred partly because of the Indian indentured servants who were sent overseas by the British Empire. Hindu Indian laborers with low social status also spread Hinduism when they moved to the Arabian Peninsula to work in the oil industry.
Although there is a lack of reliable data to evaluate the percentage of each sect, a rough estimate concludes that 50% of Hindus are Vaishnavas and 25% are Shaivas.
Although more than 99% of all Hindus live in the Asia-Pacific region, only about 25% of the population in that region are Hindus. The percentages of various nations’ Hindu population are
- 81% in Nepal
- 80% in India
- 56% in Mauritius
- 25%-33% in each country of Guyana, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago
- 33% in Fiji
- Over 20% in United Arab Emirates
- 12% in Qatar
- A significant amount in the United Kingdom and the United States
As this statistics shows, believers of Hinduism can be found in countries far away from India. Traders and merchants were probably the cause of the spread of Hinduism to Southeast Asia during the first millennium C.E. The Hindu diaspora also occurred partly because of the Indian indentured servants who were sent overseas by the British Empire. Hindu Indian laborers with low social status also spread Hinduism when they moved to the Arabian Peninsula to work in the oil industry.
Although there is a lack of reliable data to evaluate the percentage of each sect, a rough estimate concludes that 50% of Hindus are Vaishnavas and 25% are Shaivas.
