The dominant religion in Cambodia is Theravada Buddhism, practiced by roughly 97% of the population, making the country one of the most religiously homogeneous nations in Southeast Asia. Buddhism is enshrined as the official state religion in the 1993 constitution and is so deeply woven into Khmer culture that, for most Cambodians, to be Khmer is to be Buddhist. Beyond this overwhelming Buddhist majority, small but established communities of Muslims, Christians, and animists give the country a quietly diverse religious fabric that reflects more than a thousand years of empire, trade, conquest, and revival.
Religious Demographics
Cambodia's faith landscape is striking for its uniformity at the top and its small but distinct minorities at the margins:
- Theravada Buddhism: approximately 97% of the population
- Islam: around 2%, concentrated in the Cham ethnic minority
- Christianity: about 0.5%, mostly Catholic and Protestant communities
- Other beliefs: roughly 0.5%, including animism among highland ethnic groups and small numbers of followers of Chinese folk religion and Baha'i
The country today supports an estimated 60,000 monks across some 4,500 temples, most of them rebuilt since the 1980s. The Cham Muslim community numbers around 300,000 people, while indigenous highland groups in the northeast — such as the Tampuan, Jarai, and Kreung — preserve traditional spirit-based beliefs that predate organized religion. Importantly, these categories are not always rigid: many Cambodians who identify as Buddhist also honour local spirits, ancestral souls, and protective deities in everyday practice, blending formal doctrine with older folk traditions.
A History Shaped by Empire and Catastrophe
Religion in Cambodia has shifted dramatically over more than a thousand years. The mighty Khmer Empire (802–1431) was originally Hindu, and its god-kings built monumental temples to Vishnu and Shiva — Angkor Wat itself rose in the 12th century as a Hindu sanctuary dedicated to Vishnu. Mahayana Buddhism briefly flourished under King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century, who built the Bayon and dotted his empire with hospitals and rest houses. From the 13th and 14th centuries onward, Theravada Buddhism — the older, more austere "Doctrine of the Elders" — spread from neighbouring kingdoms in present-day Thailand and Sri Lanka and gradually displaced both Hinduism and Mahayana as the faith of the people, becoming dominant by the late medieval period.
French colonial rule (1863–1953) left religious practice largely intact and even supported the founding of Buddhist institutes. The gravest threat came in the 20th century: the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979) sought to abolish religion outright, emptying temples, defrocking monks, and executing religious leaders as part of its drive to create a purely agrarian society with no competing loyalties. An estimated 25,000 of the country's 65,000 monks were killed, and nearly 3,000 of around 3,600 temples were damaged or destroyed. The Cham Muslim minority was specifically targeted and is thought to have lost about a third of its population. After the regime fell, Buddhism was steadily revived, monks were re-ordained with help from Cambodian clergy abroad, and the 1993 constitution formally restored it as the state religion. You can learn more about the country's broader story in our cambodia country guide.
Buddhism in Daily Life
Cambodian Buddhism is not confined to Sundays or special occasions — it structures everyday life and community. The village wat (temple) traditionally functions as school, gathering place, library, and spiritual centre all at once. Each morning, saffron-robed monks walk in procession to collect alms, and offering them food is the most common form of merit-making, an act believed to improve one's fortune in this life and the next. The relationship is reciprocal: laypeople feed and support the monks materially, while the monks provide teaching, ritual, and blessings.
Religious milestones mark the calendar. Pchum Ben, the 15-day Ancestors' Day festival held around September or October, is among the most important holidays in the country: families bring food offerings to temples in the belief that the gates of the spirit world open and the dead must be fed. Choul Chnam Thmey, the Khmer New Year in mid-April, fills temples with worshippers building small sand stupas and playing traditional games. Visak Bochea marks the Buddha's birth, enlightenment, and death. Many young men still ordain as novice monks for at least a short period, considered a rite of passage and a way to earn merit for their parents.
Sacred Sites and Living Monuments
Cambodia's religious heritage is visible in some of the world's most extraordinary architecture. Angkor Wat, the largest religious monument ever built and a national symbol depicted on the flag, began as a Hindu temple before being converted to Buddhist use — its galleries depict both Hindu epics and Buddhist scenes. Nearby, the Bayon temple at Angkor Thom is famous for its serene stone faces. In Phnom Penh, the Silver Pagoda within the Royal Palace houses a life-sized gold Buddha studded with thousands of diamonds, while Wat Phnom, the hill-top temple that gives the capital its name, remains a popular place of worship. The cliff-top Preah Vihear temple on the Thai border is another striking Hindu-Buddhist complex and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Cham Muslim community has rebuilt mosques across the country, particularly around Kampong Cham, and observes Ramadan and other Islamic practices while maintaining a distinct cultural identity within the wider Khmer society. Christian churches, though far fewer, are found in Phnom Penh and provincial towns, and many serve communities connected to international NGOs and the small ethnic-Chinese and Vietnamese populations.
Minority Faiths and Folk Belief
Although Buddhism dominates, Cambodia's smaller religious communities have deep roots. The Cham, descendants of the historic kingdom of Champa in what is now Vietnam, are overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim and have lived in the region for centuries, sustaining their own mosques, religious schools, and dietary customs. Christianity arrived with Portuguese and French missionaries and grew modestly in the colonial and post-war eras. Meanwhile, animism — the belief that natural features, ancestors, and objects host spirits — remains the living tradition of many indigenous highland peoples, and its influence subtly colours mainstream Khmer life through reverence for neak ta (local guardian spirits) and household spirit houses found outside homes and businesses across the country.
Key Facts
- Dominant religion: Theravada Buddhism (~97% of the population)
- Official status: State religion under the 1993 constitution
- Largest minority faith: Islam (~2%), mainly among the Cham
- Monks and temples: roughly 60,000 monks across about 4,500 temples
- Historic religion: Hinduism, the faith of the Angkor-era Khmer Empire
- Major festival: Pchum Ben, the 15-day Ancestors' Day
- Most famous sacred site: Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious monument
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main religion of Cambodia?
Theravada Buddhism is the main religion of Cambodia, followed by about 97% of the population. It is the official state religion and central to Khmer cultural and national identity.
Was Cambodia ever a Hindu country?
Yes. During the Khmer Empire, Hinduism was the dominant faith, and great temples such as Angkor Wat were originally built as Hindu sanctuaries before Theravada Buddhism became dominant from around the 14th century.
What happened to religion under the Khmer Rouge?
Between 1975 and 1979 the Khmer Rouge tried to eradicate religion entirely, destroying thousands of temples, defrocking monks, and killing an estimated 25,000 of the country's 65,000 monks. Buddhism was revived after the regime collapsed.
Are there other religions in Cambodia?
Yes. The Cham minority is mostly Muslim (around 2% of the population), and there are small Christian communities (about 0.5%), alongside animist traditions practiced by some indigenous highland groups.