In recent years, Buddhism in the West has become the subject of extensive academic research—especially in North America. In Europe, and particularly in the Nordic countries, research has been more scattered and nationally grounded. A new collaborative Nordic research project has now changed that picture. Based on many years of cooperation among researchers from Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland—and more recently also Iceland—Buddhism in the Nordic region has now been studied collectively for the first time:

“We have previously conducted individual studies of Buddhism in Denmark, Sweden, Norway, and Finland, but this is the first of its kind to offer a comprehensive and comparative overview and analysis of all the Nordic countries. We are all scholars of religion who have analyzed all perspectives of Buddhism’s diverse world,” says Associate Professor of the Study of Religion, Jørn Borup, who, through his affiliation with the Centre for Contemporary Religion at Aarhus University, has for many years analyzed Buddhism in Denmark. Together with his Nordic colleagues, he is also part of a larger European publication project on Buddhism in Europe, which explores the religion's similarities and differences within historical, cultural, and political frameworks.

As part of the now completed project on Buddhism in the Nordic countries, the researchers have analyzed how Buddhism has developed in the region since the mid-19th century. The earliest phase, according to Borup, was characterized by an intellectual interest in Buddhist texts. In the 1960s came a fascination with Japanese Zen, followed in the 1980s by a wave of Tibetan Buddhism. However, it is especially since the 1980s that practicing Buddhist communities have emerged—both among ethnically Nordic converts and through migration from countries such as Vietnam and Thailand.

“Our research shows that Buddhism has developed in a similar way across the Nordic countries. The region shares a common history and close cultural ties. Buddhist networks transcend national borders, and many monks and nuns have influenced communities across them. There are comparable conditions for Buddhists, and our shared welfare systems constitute a key difference from many other countries. In all Nordic countries, Buddhism is also taught in schools and upper-secondary education within non-confessional frameworks. Religions enjoy freedom and privileges as recognized faith communities,” says Jørn Borup, who, together with the research team, has estimated the total number of Buddhists in the Nordic countries at around 200,000—roughly 0.7% of the population. This number does not include the many individuals who today engage with Buddhist-inspired practices such as mindfulness, which—like yoga—attests to the growing influence of Asian spirituality.

Diversity and Migration Pathways
A key finding of the study is that Buddhism in the Nordic countries does not constitute a single, unified tradition, but is instead marked by significant internal diversity. In all five countries, there are many different schools and traditions, and practices range widely—from temple rituals and community celebrations to individual meditation and spiritual self-development.

The contrast between convert Buddhists and migrant Buddhists is particularly striking. While converts typically have a Western, often secular background and are drawn to Buddhism for its philosophy and meditative practices, migrant Buddhists are usually rooted in their cultures of origin and use temples as religious and social gathering places.

“‘Migrant Buddhism,’ in its various forms, is by far the most widespread. And it is crucial to include it in order to highlight the diversity of Buddhism even within the Nordic context,” says Borup.
Some groups collaborate across traditions and national boundaries, while others coexist without direct contact. In some countries, umbrella organizations exist for Buddhist associations, while in others, groups operate independently. This raises important questions about religious identity and boundaries—such as what it even means to be a Buddhist in a Nordic context.

New Questions for the Future
Even though the researchers have gathered and systematized a substantial body of knowledge, the study also opens up new questions. How will Buddhism in the Nordic countries evolve in the future? What will the next generations—children of both migrant and convert Buddhists—carry forward, change, or reject?

Jørn Borup points out that the future shape of the religion may largely depend on factors such as gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and social engagement:

“Buddhism as a religion of practice is still young in the Nordic countries, and the new generations—children of converts and migrants, along with entirely new practitioners—will undoubtedly move the religion in new directions,” he says, emphasizing that the research not only documents but also invites further inquiry.
Read more about the academic publication.

Other co-editors and contributors:
Katarina Plank (Karlstad), Knut Jacobsen (Bergen), Mitra Härkönen (Helsinki)

Contact
Jørn Borup, Associate Professor
Department of the Study of Religion
School of Culture and Society
Aarhus University
Email: jb@cas.au.dk
Mobile: +45 22309953