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Naga Sadhu or Hindu holy man swims in the river Ganges during Shahi Snan at the Kumbh Mela or Pitcher Festival in Haridwar, India, April 12, 2021. Photo/REUTERS/Danish Siddiqui
NEW DELHI – Hinduism is one of the religions in the world that has many followers. Quoting the World Population Review, based on 2020 data, Hinduism has 1.16 billion followers worldwide.
Its position is in third place, after Christianity with 2.38 billion followers and Islam which is followed by 1.91 billion people.
Here are 5 countries with the largest population of Hindus in the world.
1. India
India is believed to be the place of origin of Hinduism, dating back thousands of years. The majority of Hindus in India belong to the Shaivite and Vaishnavite denominations.
In 2022, India’s population will be 1.417 billion. With 78.9% or 1.093 billion of India’s population adhering to Hinduism, Hinduism is the most widely followed religion in India.
India itself is a country with the largest Hindu population in the world. At least, as much as 95% of the world’s Hindu population resides in India.
2. Nepal
The largest Hindu population outside India is in Nepal. A total of 80.6% or 28.6 million people of Nepal follow the Hindu religion.
Nepal has a special meaning for Hindus. This is because the Himalayas in Nepal, according to Hindu mythology, are the abode of the gods, who are specifically associated with one of the three main Hindu gods, Lord Shiva.
