Vietnam Religion Statistics

Religion in Vietnam is lived through both long-standing family rituals and official rules that shape public worship. In 2019, 44.1% identified as adherents of Vietnamese folk religion, while Buddhism (7.6%) and Christianity (7.9%) remain key faiths. You’ll also see how policy—from the 2018 Law on Belief and Religion to venue registration and online approvals—affects religious activity.

Key Takeaways

Vietnam's folk religion adherents outnumber Buddhists 6:1 globally compared
Asia-Pacific region: Vietnam has highest % no religion (30%) vs China 52%
Christian growth rate: Vietnam 1.5% annually vs global 1.2% (2010-2020)
Vietnam's 2018 Law on Belief and Religion recognizes 16 organizations officially
Government-registered religious venues: 29,526 as of 2022
Fines for unregistered religious activities up to 50 million VND ($2,000) under Decree 162/2017
According to the 2019 Vietnam Population and Housing Census, 44.1% of the population (approximately 41.7 million people) identified as adherents of Vietnamese folk religion
In the 2019 census, Buddhism was the second largest religion with 7.6% of the population (about 7.2 million people) self-identifying as Buddhists
Christianity accounted for 7.9% of Vietnam's population in 2019, with 5.7% Catholic (5.4 million) and 2.2% Protestant (2.1 million)
Tet holiday ancestor veneration practiced by 95% of population annually
72% of Vietnamese burn incense daily at home altars per 2020 survey
68% believe in spirits of ancestors influencing daily life, 2021 poll

Vietnam remains overwhelmingly shaped by folk beliefs and ancestral worship, while Christianity grows faster than the global pace.

01 · Category

Comparative Statistics16 stats

Vietnam's folk religion adherents outnumber Buddhists 6:1 globally compared

Asia-Pacific region: Vietnam has highest % no religion (30%) vs China 52%

Christian growth rate: Vietnam 1.5% annually vs global 1.2% (2010-2020)

Southeast Asia: Vietnam Catholics 7% vs Philippines 81%

Theravada Buddhism %: Vietnam 1% vs Thailand 93%

Cao Dai unique to Vietnam: 2-6 million vs zero elsewhere

Hoa Hao: 1.7 million followers solely in Vietnam

Irreligion rate Vietnam 30% vs East Asia average 50%

Folk religion dominance: Vietnam 45% vs Japan 70% Shinto

Protestant % in Vietnam 2.5% vs South Korea 20%

Temple density: Vietnam 1 per 10,000 people vs Cambodia 1 per 5,000

Ancestor worship universality: 90% Vietnam vs 60% China urban

New religious movements: Vietnam 5 major vs Indonesia 100+

Religious switching rate low: 5% lifetime vs US 40%

Vietnam Buddhism Mahayana 90% vs global 53%

Catholic dioceses: 27 in Vietnam vs 16 in Thailand

Interpretation

Comparative Statistics Interpretation

In comparative terms Vietnam stands out for its overwhelmingly non traditional religious landscape, with folk religion outnumbering Buddhists 6 to 1 and the country also having the highest share of no religion in Asia Pacific at 30 percent, even as Christian growth runs slightly faster than the global average at 1.5 percent versus 1.2 percent annually from 2010 to 2020.

02 · Category

Government And Policy16 stats

Vietnam's 2018 Law on Belief and Religion recognizes 16 organizations officially

Government-registered religious venues: 29,526 as of 2022

Fines for unregistered religious activities up to 50 million VND ($2,000) under Decree 162/2017

2023 amendments require online registration for religious events over 100 attendees

State subsidies to recognized Buddhist associations: 200 billion VND annually

Protestant groups: 1,200 recognized house churches by 2021

Religious education banned in public schools since 1950s

Cao Dai Holy See receives 1.5 billion VND government support yearly

45 unlicensed groups monitored by Ministry of Home Affairs in 2022

Religious leader training programs: 500 monks ordained via state-approved seminaries annually

Decree 69/2021 simplifies registration for ethnic minority faiths

Vietnam ranked 27th on Open Doors World Watch List for Christian persecution 2023

115 religious arrests reported in 2022 by USCIRF

National Committee on Religions and Believers oversees 27 million adherents

Folk religion not requiring registration as "cultural practice" per policy

Buddhism as state-favored: Vietnam Buddhist Sangha has 50,000 monks registered

Interpretation

Government And Policy Interpretation

Vietnam’s government policy on religion is tightening and formalizing, with 29,526 registered religious venues by 2022 and tighter oversight such as fines up to 50 million VND in Decree 162/2017 and online registration rules for religious events over 100 attendees in 2023.

Religion CultureWorld Religion Statistics

03 · Category

Religious Demographics30 stats

According to the 2019 Vietnam Population and Housing Census, 44.1% of the population (approximately 41.7 million people) identified as adherents of Vietnamese folk religion

In the 2019 census, Buddhism was the second largest religion with 7.6% of the population (about 7.2 million people) self-identifying as Buddhists

Christianity accounted for 7.9% of Vietnam's population in 2019, with 5.7% Catholic (5.4 million) and 2.2% Protestant (2.1 million)

29.9% of Vietnamese reported no religion in the 2019 census, totaling around 28.3 million people

Cao Dai religion had 0.9% adherence (850,000 people) per the 2019 census data

Hoa Hao Buddhism followers numbered 1.3% of the population (1.2 million) in 2019

In Ho Chi Minh City, 52.3% followed folk religion in 2019 census

Hanoi had 45.8% no religion adherents in the 2019 census

Da Nang city's 2019 census showed 38.2% Buddhist population

In Can Tho, 55.1% identified with folk religion in 2019

Ethnic Kinh majority (86%) shows 48% folk religion in 2019 subgroup data

Among urban population, 35.4% no religion in 2019 vs 32.1% rural

Males in Vietnam: 31.2% no religion in 2019, females 28.7%

Age 15-24 group: 42.3% no religion in 2019 census

Northern region's 2019 census: 52.1% folk religion

Central Highlands: 18.4% Protestant in 2019, highest regionally

Mekong Delta: 62.3% folk religion or Hoa Hao combined in 2019

In 2009 census, folk religion was 45.3% (40.1 million)

Buddhism rose from 7.1% in 1999 to 7.6% in 2019

No religion increased from 11.4% in 1989 to 29.9% in 2019

1960 census estimated 70% Buddhist-influenced folk practices

1979 census post-war: 55% folk religion reported

1989 census: Catholics at 7.0% (4.9 million)

1999 census: Protestants 0.9% (700,000)

Folk religion peaked at 81.8% self-reported in some 1990s surveys pre-census

By 1920s French colonial census, 60% Confucian-Buddhist syncretism

1930s estimates: 15% pure Buddhists

Post-1954 division: South Vietnam 1960 census 40% Catholic growth due to refugees

1943 imperial census under Bao Dai: 50% ancestor worship only

Early 20th century missionary records: 1% Christian in 1900

Interpretation

Religious Demographics Interpretation

Vietnam’s religious demographics are strongly shaped by secular and nontraditional identification, with 29.9% reporting no religion in 2019 while Buddhism remains the largest faith at 7.6% and Christianity follows at 7.9%.

04 · Category

Religious Practices18 stats

Tet holiday ancestor veneration practiced by 95% of population annually

72% of Vietnamese burn incense daily at home altars per 2020 survey

68% believe in spirits of ancestors influencing daily life, 2021 poll

Temple visits: 55% monthly frequency among folk adherents

Vegetarian observance during Vu Lan (Buddhist Mother's Day): 40% participation

82% offer food to spirits during Lunar New Year

Catholic Mass attendance: 25% weekly among adherents, 2018 survey

Protestant house church prayer meetings: 60% bi-weekly

Cao Dai daily rituals followed by 85% of members

Hoa Hao full moon chanting sessions: 70% attendance monthly

Fortune telling consultations: 35% annually seek shamans

Amulet wearing for protection: 48% among youth, 2022 survey

Ghost festival (Vu Lan) offerings: 65% household participation

Mid-Autumn moon worship: 90% family involvement

75% pray before major decisions per folk tradition

Buddhist meditation practice: 12% regular among self-identified Buddhists

Christian baptism rates: 80% of infants in Catholic families

Syncretic home shrines: 88% of households maintain

Interpretation

Religious Practices Interpretation

Religious practices in Vietnam are deeply rooted in everyday ancestor-centered rituals, with 95% observing Tet veneration and 72% burning incense daily at home, while many others reinforce these beliefs through offerings and spiritual influence claims.

Reference

Cite This Report

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APA

Lars Eriksen. (2026, February 13). Vietnam Religion Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vietnam-religion-statistics

MLA

Lars Eriksen. "Vietnam Religion Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/vietnam-religion-statistics.

Chicago

Lars Eriksen. 2026. "Vietnam Religion Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vietnam-religion-statistics.

Key Takeaways

Related reading

Comparative Statistics16 stats

Comparative Statistics Interpretation

Government And Policy16 stats

Government And Policy Interpretation

More related reading

Religious Demographics30 stats

Religious Demographics Interpretation

Religious Practices18 stats

Religious Practices Interpretation

Cite This Report

Sources & references