Thailand and Mauritius: Buddhist Majority vs. Hindu Pluralism

Religious Demographics: Thailand vs. Mauritius

No, neither is a "Hindu nation." They have profoundly different religious landscapes.

Thailand: Overwhelmingly Buddhist

• Theravada Buddhism: **~93–95%** of population (~66M). State religion de facto; King must be Buddhist. Monks ~300,000. Temples (wats) ~40,000. Pervades culture, calendar, law, education.
• Islam: **~4–5%** (mostly Malay Sunni in deep south: Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat).
• Christianity: **~1%** (Catholic, Protestant).
• Hinduism: **~0.03–0.1%** (~20,000–60,000). **Almost entirely ethnic Indian diaspora** (Tamil, Gujarati, Sikh) in Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai. Temples: Sri Maha Mariamman (Bangkok), others. **Not a national religion.**
• Sikhism: ~70,000 (Indian diaspora). Gurudwaras in Bangkok.
• Chinese Folk Religion / Taoism / Confucianism: Significant among Thai-Chinese (~14% population), often syncretized with Buddhism.

Mauritius: Religiously Plural, Hindu Plurality

• Hinduism: **~48–50%** (largest single group). **Descendants of Indian indentured laborers** (Bhojpuri, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati) brought 1834–1910. Major festivals: Maha Shivaratri (Grand Bassin pilgrimage), Diwali, Cavadee. **Not a "Hindu nation" constitutionally** — secular state.
• Christianity: **~32%** (Roman Catholic ~26%, other ~6%). Franco-Mauritian, Creole, some Indian converts.
• Islam: **~17%** (Sunni, mostly Indian origin — Memon, Surti, Kokni; some Creole).
• Buddhism / Chinese Folk: **~1–2%** (Sino-Mauritians).
• Other / None: Small.

Key Distinction