Religion by Country
Religion in Thailand: Statistics & Demographics
An overwhelmingly Theravada Buddhist society — with a distinct, majority-Muslim Deep South.
Quick answer
About 93.5% of Thais are Buddhist (overwhelmingly Theravada), 5.4% are Muslim and 1.1% are Christian, according to 2018 National Statistical Office data. Buddhism is central to Thai identity and daily life, while Islam is concentrated among ethnic Malays in the far south near the Malaysian border.
- Largest religion
- Buddhism (Theravada) — 93.5%
- Largest minority
- Islam — 5.4%
- Christianity
- 1.1%
- Data source
- National Statistical Office of Thailand
- Reference year
- 2018
Religion in Thailand at a glance
Thailand is one of the most solidly Buddhist countries in the world, with Theravada Buddhism woven through national identity, culture and daily ritual. A significant Muslim minority is concentrated in the far south. Figures are from Thailand's National Statistical Office (2018).
| Religion | Share |
|---|---|
| Buddhism (Theravada) | 93.5% |
| Islam | 5.4% |
| Christianity | 1.1% |
| Other / none | <0.1% |
The main religions
Theravada Buddhism (about 93%) shapes festivals, temple life and the monkhood, and blends in practice with Hindu and animist elements. Islam (about 5%), mostly Sunni, is the largest minority. Christianity (about 1%) is a small community, more than half Catholic, and often found among ethnic Chinese and northern hill communities.
Buddhism, and a Muslim Deep South
The one part of Thailand where Buddhism is not overwhelmingly dominant is the Deep South — the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Satun near the Malaysian border — which is majority Muslim and ethnically Malay. This distinct identity has been at the centre of a long-running regional conflict.
Buddhism and the state
Thailand has no official state religion, but the constitution directs the state to protect Buddhism and other faiths, and the king is required to be Buddhist and an upholder of religions. Tens of thousands of temples and a large monkhood give Buddhism a central public role.
Belief and society
Thailand illustrates a Theravada Buddhist society with strong syncretic and animist threads. For neighbouring contrasts, see religion in Malaysia and religion in the Philippines.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main religion in Thailand?
Theravada Buddhism is the main religion, followed by about 93.5% of the population, and is central to Thai national identity and daily life.
What percentage of Thailand is Muslim?
About 5.4% of Thais are Muslim, mostly Sunni and concentrated in the southern provinces near the Malaysian border.
Is Buddhism the official religion of Thailand?
No. Thailand has no official state religion, though the constitution requires the state to protect Buddhism and other faiths, and the king must be Buddhist.
Where do most Muslims in Thailand live?
Most Thai Muslims live in the far south — the provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat and Satun — where they form the majority and are largely ethnically Malay.
Sources & methodology
Figures come from the National Statistical Office of Thailand's 2018 survey of religious identity. Independent estimates vary somewhat — some academics and NGOs put the Muslim share higher (up to around 5–10%) — and most Thai Buddhists incorporate Hindu and animist practices alongside Buddhism.
- National Statistical Office of Thailand, 2018 Social, Cultural and Mental Health Survey — religion (as summarised by the Royal Thai Government, thailand.go.th).