GITNUXREPORT 2026

Religion In China Statistics

China has a majority non-religious population alongside diverse Buddhist and folk traditions.

Min-ji Park

Min-ji Park

Research Analyst focused on sustainability and consumer trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

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Key Statistics

Statistic 1

Buddhism constitutes 18.2% of religious adherents per CIA 2021 est.

Statistic 2

China hosts over 28,000 registered Buddhist temples as of 2020 SARA data.

Statistic 3

Shaolin Temple receives 2-3 million visitors annually, boosting Buddhist tourism.

Statistic 4

The Buddhist Association of China claims 250 million followers, though active are fewer.

Statistic 5

Mahayana Buddhism dominates, with 90% of Chinese Buddhists following it per 2014 studies.

Statistic 6

During Lunar New Year, over 100 million participate in Buddhist rituals nationwide.

Statistic 7

Putuo Shan, a sacred Buddhist island, attracts 10 million pilgrims yearly pre-COVID.

Statistic 8

Government-approved Buddhist scriptures number over 1,000 titles published since 2000.

Statistic 9

Emei Shan Buddhist site has 76 temples and 180 monks/nuns as of 2019.

Statistic 10

Online Buddhist communities grew 300% from 2010-2020, per Tencent reports.

Statistic 11

2018 CGSS shows 18% of Chinese burn incense regularly, mostly Buddhist practice.

Statistic 12

Wutaishan hosts 53 monasteries with 2,000 monks, key Tibetan-Han Buddhist site.

Statistic 13

Jiuhuashan sacred mountain has 95 Buddhist temples and 500 resident monks.

Statistic 14

Buddhist vegetarianism practiced by 5-10% of urban Buddhists per 2021 surveys.

Statistic 15

China produces 70% of world's Buddhist statues, mainly in Quanzhou.

Statistic 16

Annual Buddhist forum in Wuxi attracts 1,000 monastics from 30 countries.

Statistic 17

Theravada Buddhism minor, with under 1 million adherents in Yunnan.

Statistic 18

Government spent 1.2 billion RMB on Buddhist cultural preservation 2016-2020.

Statistic 19

25% of Chinese temples are Buddhist, totaling 140,000 sites unregistered.

Statistic 20

Christian population estimated at 70 million by 2020, per Asia Harvest.

Statistic 21

Registered Protestant churches: 60,000 with 38 million members per TSPM.

Statistic 22

House churches number over 50,000, with 80 million attendees est.

Statistic 23

Bible sales: 100 million copies annually in China.

Statistic 24

Zhejiang province demolished 2,000+ crosses from 2014-2016.

Statistic 25

Catholic registered: 6 million in 144 dioceses per Chinese Patriotic Assoc.

Statistic 26

Underground Catholics: 12 million loyal to Vatican est.

Statistic 27

Christianity growth rate: 7% annually 1979-2010 per Pew.

Statistic 28

Shanghai has largest Protestant congregation: 10,000 members.

Statistic 29

Online Christian services surged 500% post-COVID.

Statistic 30

Wenzhou "China's Jerusalem" has 15% Christian population.

Statistic 31

Seminary students: 20,000 trained annually in registered schools.

Statistic 32

Foreign missionaries expelled: 100+ yearly since 2018.

Statistic 33

Christmas celebrated by 50 million non-Christians yearly.

Statistic 34

Henan Bible Institute trains 1,000 pastors yearly underground.

Statistic 35

Pentecostal movement claims 30 million adherents.

Statistic 36

Christian NGOs: 700 registered, aiding millions.

Statistic 37

According to the 2020 Chinese census data analyzed by scholars, approximately 52.1% of China's population identifies as non-religious or atheist, making it the largest group.

Statistic 38

Pew Research Center's 2012 Global Religious Landscape report estimates that 52% of Chinese adults have no religious affiliation.

Statistic 39

The 2018 Chinese General Social Survey found that 29% of respondents believed in Buddha or Bodhisattvas, indicating Buddhist leanings.

Statistic 40

CIA World Factbook 2021 estimates folk religion adherents at 21.9% of the population, roughly 293 million people.

Statistic 41

A 2014 WIN/Gallup International poll reported 73% of Chinese as convinced atheists, the highest globally.

Statistic 42

Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2014 data shows 15.87% of Chinese as Buddhists.

Statistic 43

2020 estimates place China's total population at 1.41 billion, with religious believers around 200-300 million.

Statistic 44

Urban areas in China have lower religiosity rates, with only 10-15% active practitioners per 2018 surveys.

Statistic 45

Rural China sees higher folk religion participation, up to 40% in some provinces per CFPS data.

Statistic 46

Women in China are 1.5 times more likely to be religious than men, per 2016 World Values Survey.

Statistic 47

Youth under 30 in China show religiosity rates below 5%, according to 2021 Peking University surveys.

Statistic 48

Eastern provinces like Zhejiang have higher Christian demographics at 2-3%, per local government reports.

Statistic 49

Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has over 50% Muslim population, estimated at 12 million.

Statistic 50

Tibet Autonomous Region population is 90% Tibetan Buddhist, around 3.6 million adherents.

Statistic 51

Chinese Spiritual Life Survey 2010 found 12% Taoist identifiers nationwide.

Statistic 52

2023 Pew Forum data indicates only 4% of Chinese consider religion very important in life.

Statistic 53

CFPS 2018 update shows intergenerational decline in religiosity, from 20% in elders to 5% in youth.

Statistic 54

Shanghai municipality has one of the lowest religious affiliation rates at under 10%.

Statistic 55

Guangdong province reports 15% folk religion practitioners per 2015 provincial survey.

Statistic 56

National average daily prayer rate among believers is 12%, per 2016 CGSS.

Statistic 57

Uyghur Muslims: 11 million, 46% of Xinjiang population per 2010 census.

Statistic 58

Hui Muslims: 10.5 million nationwide, per 2010 census.

Statistic 59

Registered mosques: 39,000 as of 2020 SARA.

Statistic 60

Ramadan fasting monitored, with 1 million Uyghurs in camps 2017-2019 est.

Statistic 61

Niujie Mosque in Beijing serves 10,000 weekly.

Statistic 62

Halal food market worth 2 trillion RMB annually.

Statistic 63

Uyghur re-education camps held 1-2 million Muslims 2017-2020.

Statistic 64

Islamic Association of China oversees 25 million believers claim.

Statistic 65

Linxia "Little Mecca" has 300 mosques for 1 million Hui.

Statistic 66

Hajj pilgrims: 12,000 approved annually pre-COVID.

Statistic 67

Quran burnings reported in 100+ Xinjiang camps.

Statistic 68

Kazakh and Kyrgyz Muslims: 1.5 million in Xinjiang.

Statistic 69

Dongxiang and Salar Muslims: 800,000 combined.

Statistic 70

Madrasas closed: 65% in Xinjiang since 2014.

Statistic 71

Eid al-Fitr gatherings banned in many areas post-2017.

Statistic 72

Islamic banking assets: 100 billion RMB in Ningxia.

Statistic 73

Taoism has 12% adherents per CFPS 2014, around 170 million nominal.

Statistic 74

China Taoist Association oversees 9,000 registered temples as of 2022.

Statistic 75

Qigong, a Taoist practice, has 50-100 million practitioners despite crackdowns.

Statistic 76

Dragon Boat Festival involves Taoist rituals by 80% of participants.

Statistic 77

Wudang Mountains host 200 Taoist temples and 2,000 clergy.

Statistic 78

Feng Shui consultations sought by 30% of urban Chinese annually.

Statistic 79

Chinese New Year ancestral worship, folk-Taoist, by 90% of families.

Statistic 80

Qingming Festival tomb-sweeping by 1 billion participants yearly.

Statistic 81

Mao Shan Taoist academy trains 300 priests yearly.

Statistic 82

Folk religion temples number 100,000+, mostly unregistered.

Statistic 83

70% of Chinese engage in folk rituals like door god worship.

Statistic 84

Mazu goddess worship has 200 million devotees in Fujian alone.

Statistic 85

Zhongnan Mountains shelter 5,000 hermits, many Taoist.

Statistic 86

Yinyang cosmology believed by 25% per 2018 CGSS.

Statistic 87

Confucian temples revived to 1,300 nationwide since 1980s.

Statistic 88

Fortune-telling stalls in markets serve millions yearly.

Statistic 89

Ghost Month (7th lunar) observances by 60% rural population.

Sources
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While China is often perceived as a deeply spiritual land of ancient temples and traditions, the surprising reality revealed by data is that over half of its massive population identifies as non-religious, forming the world's largest community of atheists and religiously unaffiliated people.

Key Takeaways

  • According to the 2020 Chinese census data analyzed by scholars, approximately 52.1% of China's population identifies as non-religious or atheist, making it the largest group.
  • Pew Research Center's 2012 Global Religious Landscape report estimates that 52% of Chinese adults have no religious affiliation.
  • The 2018 Chinese General Social Survey found that 29% of respondents believed in Buddha or Bodhisattvas, indicating Buddhist leanings.
  • Buddhism constitutes 18.2% of religious adherents per CIA 2021 est.
  • China hosts over 28,000 registered Buddhist temples as of 2020 SARA data.
  • Shaolin Temple receives 2-3 million visitors annually, boosting Buddhist tourism.
  • Taoism has 12% adherents per CFPS 2014, around 170 million nominal.
  • China Taoist Association oversees 9,000 registered temples as of 2022.
  • Qigong, a Taoist practice, has 50-100 million practitioners despite crackdowns.
  • Christian population estimated at 70 million by 2020, per Asia Harvest.
  • Registered Protestant churches: 60,000 with 38 million members per TSPM.
  • House churches number over 50,000, with 80 million attendees est.
  • Uyghur Muslims: 11 million, 46% of Xinjiang population per 2010 census.
  • Hui Muslims: 10.5 million nationwide, per 2010 census.
  • Registered mosques: 39,000 as of 2020 SARA.

China has a majority non-religious population alongside diverse Buddhist and folk traditions.

Buddhism

  • Buddhism constitutes 18.2% of religious adherents per CIA 2021 est.
  • China hosts over 28,000 registered Buddhist temples as of 2020 SARA data.
  • Shaolin Temple receives 2-3 million visitors annually, boosting Buddhist tourism.
  • The Buddhist Association of China claims 250 million followers, though active are fewer.
  • Mahayana Buddhism dominates, with 90% of Chinese Buddhists following it per 2014 studies.
  • During Lunar New Year, over 100 million participate in Buddhist rituals nationwide.
  • Putuo Shan, a sacred Buddhist island, attracts 10 million pilgrims yearly pre-COVID.
  • Government-approved Buddhist scriptures number over 1,000 titles published since 2000.
  • Emei Shan Buddhist site has 76 temples and 180 monks/nuns as of 2019.
  • Online Buddhist communities grew 300% from 2010-2020, per Tencent reports.
  • 2018 CGSS shows 18% of Chinese burn incense regularly, mostly Buddhist practice.
  • Wutaishan hosts 53 monasteries with 2,000 monks, key Tibetan-Han Buddhist site.
  • Jiuhuashan sacred mountain has 95 Buddhist temples and 500 resident monks.
  • Buddhist vegetarianism practiced by 5-10% of urban Buddhists per 2021 surveys.
  • China produces 70% of world's Buddhist statues, mainly in Quanzhou.
  • Annual Buddhist forum in Wuxi attracts 1,000 monastics from 30 countries.
  • Theravada Buddhism minor, with under 1 million adherents in Yunnan.
  • Government spent 1.2 billion RMB on Buddhist cultural preservation 2016-2020.
  • 25% of Chinese temples are Buddhist, totaling 140,000 sites unregistered.

Buddhism Interpretation

These figures paint a portrait of Buddhism in China as a vast, state-managed spiritual ecosystem—where official statistics, ancient temples, and digital devotion coexist in a delicate balance between profound tradition and pragmatic oversight.

Christianity

  • Christian population estimated at 70 million by 2020, per Asia Harvest.
  • Registered Protestant churches: 60,000 with 38 million members per TSPM.
  • House churches number over 50,000, with 80 million attendees est.
  • Bible sales: 100 million copies annually in China.
  • Zhejiang province demolished 2,000+ crosses from 2014-2016.
  • Catholic registered: 6 million in 144 dioceses per Chinese Patriotic Assoc.
  • Underground Catholics: 12 million loyal to Vatican est.
  • Christianity growth rate: 7% annually 1979-2010 per Pew.
  • Shanghai has largest Protestant congregation: 10,000 members.
  • Online Christian services surged 500% post-COVID.
  • Wenzhou "China's Jerusalem" has 15% Christian population.
  • Seminary students: 20,000 trained annually in registered schools.
  • Foreign missionaries expelled: 100+ yearly since 2018.
  • Christmas celebrated by 50 million non-Christians yearly.
  • Henan Bible Institute trains 1,000 pastors yearly underground.
  • Pentecostal movement claims 30 million adherents.
  • Christian NGOs: 700 registered, aiding millions.

Christianity Interpretation

The numbers paint a vivid portrait of a faith flourishing with remarkable resilience in the crevices of regulation, where state-sanctioned cathedrals, bustling underground house churches, and a staggering hunger for Bibles tell a story of growth that official statistics can only cautiously acknowledge.

Demographics

  • According to the 2020 Chinese census data analyzed by scholars, approximately 52.1% of China's population identifies as non-religious or atheist, making it the largest group.
  • Pew Research Center's 2012 Global Religious Landscape report estimates that 52% of Chinese adults have no religious affiliation.
  • The 2018 Chinese General Social Survey found that 29% of respondents believed in Buddha or Bodhisattvas, indicating Buddhist leanings.
  • CIA World Factbook 2021 estimates folk religion adherents at 21.9% of the population, roughly 293 million people.
  • A 2014 WIN/Gallup International poll reported 73% of Chinese as convinced atheists, the highest globally.
  • Chinese Family Panel Studies (CFPS) 2014 data shows 15.87% of Chinese as Buddhists.
  • 2020 estimates place China's total population at 1.41 billion, with religious believers around 200-300 million.
  • Urban areas in China have lower religiosity rates, with only 10-15% active practitioners per 2018 surveys.
  • Rural China sees higher folk religion participation, up to 40% in some provinces per CFPS data.
  • Women in China are 1.5 times more likely to be religious than men, per 2016 World Values Survey.
  • Youth under 30 in China show religiosity rates below 5%, according to 2021 Peking University surveys.
  • Eastern provinces like Zhejiang have higher Christian demographics at 2-3%, per local government reports.
  • Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has over 50% Muslim population, estimated at 12 million.
  • Tibet Autonomous Region population is 90% Tibetan Buddhist, around 3.6 million adherents.
  • Chinese Spiritual Life Survey 2010 found 12% Taoist identifiers nationwide.
  • 2023 Pew Forum data indicates only 4% of Chinese consider religion very important in life.
  • CFPS 2018 update shows intergenerational decline in religiosity, from 20% in elders to 5% in youth.
  • Shanghai municipality has one of the lowest religious affiliation rates at under 10%.
  • Guangdong province reports 15% folk religion practitioners per 2015 provincial survey.
  • National average daily prayer rate among believers is 12%, per 2016 CGSS.

Demographics Interpretation

China's religious landscape presents a statistical tug-of-war where, depending on who you ask, the nation is either a bastion of atheism, a keeper of ancient folk traditions, or a patchwork of devout regional communities, all under the watchful eye of a state that officially prefers its citizens spiritually unaffiliated.

Islam

  • Uyghur Muslims: 11 million, 46% of Xinjiang population per 2010 census.
  • Hui Muslims: 10.5 million nationwide, per 2010 census.
  • Registered mosques: 39,000 as of 2020 SARA.
  • Ramadan fasting monitored, with 1 million Uyghurs in camps 2017-2019 est.
  • Niujie Mosque in Beijing serves 10,000 weekly.
  • Halal food market worth 2 trillion RMB annually.
  • Uyghur re-education camps held 1-2 million Muslims 2017-2020.
  • Islamic Association of China oversees 25 million believers claim.
  • Linxia "Little Mecca" has 300 mosques for 1 million Hui.
  • Hajj pilgrims: 12,000 approved annually pre-COVID.
  • Quran burnings reported in 100+ Xinjiang camps.
  • Kazakh and Kyrgyz Muslims: 1.5 million in Xinjiang.
  • Dongxiang and Salar Muslims: 800,000 combined.
  • Madrasas closed: 65% in Xinjiang since 2014.
  • Eid al-Fitr gatherings banned in many areas post-2017.
  • Islamic banking assets: 100 billion RMB in Ningxia.

Islam Interpretation

These statistics sketch a portrait of a state that simultaneously manages, markets, and meticulously suppresses Islam, calibrating its control between the grand mosque and the grim camp.

Taoism and Folk

  • Taoism has 12% adherents per CFPS 2014, around 170 million nominal.
  • China Taoist Association oversees 9,000 registered temples as of 2022.
  • Qigong, a Taoist practice, has 50-100 million practitioners despite crackdowns.
  • Dragon Boat Festival involves Taoist rituals by 80% of participants.
  • Wudang Mountains host 200 Taoist temples and 2,000 clergy.
  • Feng Shui consultations sought by 30% of urban Chinese annually.
  • Chinese New Year ancestral worship, folk-Taoist, by 90% of families.
  • Qingming Festival tomb-sweeping by 1 billion participants yearly.
  • Mao Shan Taoist academy trains 300 priests yearly.
  • Folk religion temples number 100,000+, mostly unregistered.
  • 70% of Chinese engage in folk rituals like door god worship.
  • Mazu goddess worship has 200 million devotees in Fujian alone.
  • Zhongnan Mountains shelter 5,000 hermits, many Taoist.
  • Yinyang cosmology believed by 25% per 2018 CGSS.
  • Confucian temples revived to 1,300 nationwide since 1980s.
  • Fortune-telling stalls in markets serve millions yearly.
  • Ghost Month (7th lunar) observances by 60% rural population.

Taoism and Folk Interpretation

Even with its temples meticulously counted and its priests officially trained, the true pulse of Taoism in China beats strongest in the unregistered folk rituals, the mountain hermits, and the ancestral festivals where hundreds of millions instinctively practice what the state struggles to categorize.