Religion inMongolia has been traditionally dominated by the schools ofMongolian Buddhism and byMongolian shamanism, theethnic religion of theMongols. Historically, through theirMongol Empire the Mongols wereexposed to the influences ofChristianity (Nestorianism andCatholicism) andIslam, although these religions never came to dominate. During thecommunist period of theMongolian People's Republic (1924–1992) all religions were suppressed; however, with the transition to the parliamentary republic in the 1990s, there has been a general revival of faiths.
According to the national census of 2020, 51.7% of the Mongolians identify as Buddhists, 40.6% asnon-religious, 3.2% as Muslims (predominantly ofKazakh ethnicitry with smallKhoton population) 2.5% as followers of the Mongol shamanic tradition, 1.3% as Christians, and 0.7% as followers of other religions.[1]
| Religion | 2010[1][4] | 2020[1] | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | % | Number | % | |
| Buddhism | 1,459,983 | 53.0 | 1,704,480 | 51.7 |
| Islam | 82,641 | 3.0 | 105,500 | 3.2 |
| Mongolian shamanism | 79,886 | 2.9 | 82,422 | 2.5 |
| Christianity | 60,603 | 2.2 | 42,859 | 1.3 |
| Other religion | 11,019 | 0.4 | 23,078 | 0.7 |
| Non-religious | 1,063,308 | 38.6 | 1,338,528 | 40.6 |
| Total population | 2,754,685 | 100 | 3,296,866 | 100 |
Buddhism in Mongolia began with theYuan dynasty (1271–1368) emperors' conversion toTibetan Buddhism. TheMongols returned to indigenous shamanic traditions after the collapse of theMongol Empire, but Buddhism reemerged in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. During the communistMongolian People's Republic (1924–1992), Buddhism was suppressed with an estimated 17,000 monks being killed under the regime, official figures show.[5] After thecollapse of communism in the 1990s, there has been a resurgence of Buddhism in the country, both within the fold of the traditional monastic institution and through the spread ofNew Age-inspired andmonotheism-inspirednew religious movements of Buddhism.[6] According to the 2020 census of Mongolia, 51.7% of the population, that is 1,704,480 people, are adherents of Buddhism.[1]
Mongolian shamanism, more broadly called the Mongolian folk religion, or occasionally Tengrism, refers to theanimistic andshamanicethnic religion that has been practiced by theMongols at least since the age ofrecorded history. The Mongolian name of the practice isBöö mörgöl (Бөө мөргөл). In the earliest known stages it was tied to all other aspects of social life and to the tribal organization of Mongolian society. When the Mongols adopted Buddhism, Mongolian shamanism was influenced and merged with the new religion. During the communist republic of the twentieth century it was heavily repressed, but after the fall of communism it was revived. According to the 2020 census, 2.5% of the population of Mongolia, that is 82,422 people, declare that they are shamans.[1]
Mongolian shamanism is centered on the worship of thetngri (gods) and the highestTenger ("Heaven", "God of Heaven", or "God"), also calledQormusta Tengri. In the Mongolian folk religion, Genghis Khan is considered one of the embodiments, if not the main embodiment, of the supreme God. TheMausoleum of Genghis Khan inOrdos City, inInner Mongolia, is an important center of this tradition.
Yellow shamanism is the term used to designate the particular version of Mongolian shamanism which adopts the expressive style of Buddhism. "Yellow" indicates Buddhism in Mongolian culture, since most Buddhists there belong to what is called theGelug or "Yellow sect" ofTibetan Buddhism, whose members wear yellow hats while performing rituals. The term also serves to distinguish it from a form of shamanism not influenced by Buddhism, calledblack shamanism.
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Islam in Mongolia is the religion of 105,500 people as of the 2020 census, corresponding to 3.2% of the population.[1] It is mostly the religion of theKazakh ethnic minority residing in the areas ofBayan-Ölgii Province andKhovd Province in western Mongolia. However, Kazakh communities may be found in cities and towns throughout all Mongolia.
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Christianity in Mongolia is the religion of 42,859 people according to the 2020 census, corresponding to 1.3% of the population.[1] Christians in Mongolia includeProtestants,Catholics,Orthodox Christians, andMormons ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
There are very few Jews in Mongolia, mostly descendants of refugees fleeing oppression in Russia, or Lithuanians forced to move by Soviet authorities.
The 2020 census counted 23,078 people who were adherents of religions other than Buddhism, Mongolian shamanism, Islam or Christianity, corresponding to 0.7% of the total population of the country.[1][3][2]
TheBaháʼí Faith was introduced in Mongolia only in the 1980s and 1990s, as prior to that point the communist ideology suppressed religions and impeded the spread of new ones. The first Bahá'í arrived in Mongolia in 1988, and founded a community of believers, later establishing a Bahá'íLocal Spiritual Assembly. In 1994, the Bahá'ís elected their firstNational Spiritual Assembly.
Hinduism too has spread into Mongolia in the 1990s, after the collapse of the communist republic. TheInternational Society for Krishna Consciousness (Hare Krishna) andPatanjali Yogpeeth have established themselves in Mongolia; at the same time some Mongolian Buddhists have incorporated Hindu concepts and techniques into their Buddhist religion.[6]
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