What religion is practiced in Bhutan?
Bhutan officially practices Mahayana tantric Buddhism as its state religion, the only country in the world to do so. The population consists of 75% Lamaist Buddhists and 25% Hindus influenced by Indian and Nepalese traditions.
Tantric Buddhism, the sole official religion
Bhutan holds the exceptional status of being the only country in the world where Mahayana Buddhism in its tantric form constitutes the official religion. This particularity makes the Himalayan kingdom a unique case on the planet.
Religious distribution of the population
- 75% of Lamaist Buddhists : practicing the official tantric Buddhism
- 25% of Hindus : mainly of Indian and Nepalese influence
- Christian communities : very minority and sometimes facing discrimination
Key takeaways
This Buddhist predominance profoundly influences Bhutanese architecture, festivals and daily life. The dzongs (fortress-monasteries) and colorful prayer flags dot the landscape, testimony to this omnipresent spirituality.