---
"title": "American Buddhists"
"description": "Only about a third (32%) of Buddhists in the United States are Asian; a majority (53%) are white, and most are converts to Buddhism."
"date": "2008-03-17"
"authors":
  -
    "name": "Russell Heimlich"
    "job_title": "Former web developer"
    "link": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
"url": "https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/short-reads/2008/03/17/american-buddhists/"
---

# American Buddhists

Only about a third (32%) of Buddhists in the United States are Asian; a majority (53%) are white, and in sharp contrast to Islam and Hinduism, Buddhism in the America is primarily made up of native-born adherents, whites and converts. The Buddhist tradition (0.7% of the American population) is made up of several distinct groups, the largest of which is Zen Buddhism. [Read More](https://alpha.pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/pubs/743/united-states-religion)