Religion by Country
Religion in Japan: Statistics, Beliefs & Demographics
Where most people take part in Shinto and Buddhist rites, institutional counts exceed the population — yet many Japanese say they have no religion at all.
Quick answer
Japan's two main traditions are Shinto and Buddhism, which most Japanese practise together rather than as exclusive identities. By self-identification, a 2023 Pew survey found Buddhism at 46% and “no religion” at 42%. Institutional adherent counts tell a different story, summing to about 1.4 times the population because Shinto and Buddhism count the same people.
- Main traditions
- Shinto and Buddhism (widely practised together)
- Self-identified ‘no religion’
- ~42% (Pew, 2023)
- Largest self-ID affiliation
- Buddhism — ~46%
- Institutional data source
- Agency for Cultural Affairs (annual yearbook)
- Key caveat
- Adherent counts exceed 100% of the population
Religion in Japan at a glance
Japan is one of the world's hardest countries to measure religiously, because the numbers depend entirely on how you ask the question. When people are asked what they personally believe, a large share say they have no religion. When religious institutions report their own membership, the totals add up to far more than the whole population — because most Japanese take part in both Shinto and Buddhist rites without treating either as an exclusive identity.
By self-identified affiliation, a 2023 Pew Research Center survey found Buddhism at 46% and “no religion” at 42%, with Shinto rarely claimed as a personal identity.
| Tradition | Share of population |
|---|---|
| Shinto | ~48.6% |
| Buddhism | ~46.2% |
| Christianity | ~1.1% |
| Other | ~4% |
| Combined total | ~140% of population |
Why the numbers don't add up
The Agency for Cultural Affairs compiles adherent figures reported voluntarily by religious organisations. Because Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples both count the same people, the combined total regularly reaches around 1.4 times Japan's population. This is not an error: it reflects shinbutsu-shūgō, the centuries-old fusion of Shinto and Buddhist practice. A typical person may visit a shrine at New Year, marry in a Shinto or Christian-style ceremony, and hold a Buddhist funeral — while describing themselves as not religious.
The main traditions
Shinto is the indigenous tradition of kami (spirits) worshipped at shrines; it is woven into festivals and life-cycle events more than personal belief. Buddhism, introduced from the Asian mainland in the 6th century, dominates funerary and ancestral rites. Christianity remains around 1–2% after centuries of limited growth, and a range of newer religious movements make up much of the rest.
A short history
Shinto and Buddhism have coexisted and blended for over a thousand years. The 19th-century State Shinto period briefly separated and elevated Shinto, until the postwar constitution guaranteed religious freedom and the separation of religion and state. Since then, formal religious affiliation has drifted downward, especially among the young.
Belief and everyday life
Japan illustrates a wider point about measuring religion: institutional numbers, self-identification and actual practice can tell very different stories. For contrasting East Asian cases, see religion in South Korea.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main religion in Japan?
Shinto and Buddhism are the two main traditions, and most Japanese take part in both. By personal self-identification, Buddhism is the most commonly claimed affiliation, with a nearly equal share saying they have no religion.
Why do religious statistics in Japan add up to more than 100%?
Because Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples each count the same people. Most Japanese participate in both traditions, so institutional adherent totals reach roughly 1.4 times the population.
Are most Japanese religious?
In surveys, a majority of Japanese say they are not religious and do not belong to a religious organisation, even though they take part in Shinto and Buddhist customs and festivals.
How many Christians are in Japan?
Christians make up roughly 1–2% of Japan's population, a share that has stayed small despite Christianity's long presence in the country.
Sources & methodology
Japan has no census question on religion. Figures come from two very different sources: survey-based self-identification (such as Pew Research Center) and institutional adherent counts reported voluntarily by religious groups to the Agency for Cultural Affairs. The two are not comparable, and neither captures the overlapping, practice-based nature of Japanese religiosity fully.
- Pew Research Center, Religion and Spirituality in East Asian Societies (2023) — self-identified affiliation in Japan.
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Government of Japan — annual Religious Yearbook (Shūkyō Nenkan), institutional adherent statistics.