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NEWS | EASTERN HORIZON 63

societal ties to Buddhism. Conversely,
South Korea has a retention rate of
only 39 per cent, highlighting a more
fluid religious landscape.

The United States demonstrates the
highest rate of entry into Buddhism,
with 48 per cent of US Buddhists
indicating they were raised in
another tradition or with no religion
at all. Despite this influx, Buddhists
constitute only 1 per cent of the total
US adult population. Meanwhile, in
South Korea, 33 per cent of Buddhists
say they converted to the religion and
24 per cent of Singaporean Buddhists
did as well, suggesting that despite
losses of Buddhists due to switching
out, there are also trends of non- From pewresearch.org
Buddhists switching into the religion
in both countries.

From pewresearch.org

Demographic factors such as age, individuals, particularly in the major religious traditions such as
education, and gender show varying Netherlands, report higher switching Christianity and Buddhism. However,
impacts on religious switching. rates. Gender differences are minor, these movements are complex and
Younger adults in countries such although statistically significant in nuanced, influenced by demographic,
as Canada, Italy, Spain, and the US some countries, where men slightly cultural, and social factors, indicating
are generally more likely to have surpass women in rates of religious evolution and uncertainty for the
switched religions compared with switching. future of global religions.
older generations, suggesting possible
ongoing secularization trends. These findings illustrate a global Source: www.buddhistdoor.net EH
Education also influences switching shift toward religious non-
in some nations: highly educated affiliation, significantly impacting