Taoist

Taoism is an ancient Chinese tradition — both philosophy and organized religion — centered on the Tao, the underlying principle and natural flow of the universe. Its foundational text is the Tao Te Ching, a short work of poetic aphorisms traditionally attributed to the 6th-century BCE sage Laozi, and its philosophical canon is filled out by the Zhuangzi, a collection of allegories and parables from the 4th century BCE. Core ideas include wu wei (effortless, non-contrived action), the balance of yin and yang, and living in harmony with nature through simplicity, spontaneity, and inner cultivation. Religious Taoism developed from the 2nd century CE onward and blends philosophical Taoism with alchemy, ritual, meditation, martial arts, and a vast pantheon of deities and immortals administered by ordained priests. Major sects include Zhengyi and Quanzhen. Alongside Confucianism and Buddhism, Taoism has shaped Chinese spirituality for two millennia, with tens of millions of adherents today in China, Taiwan, and the Chinese diaspora.

Countries by Taoist Population (2)

1. 1. 🇹🇼 Taiwan 33.2%
2. 2. 🇸🇬 Singapore 8.8%

Note: This list reflects only countries where the CIA World Factbook — our data source — explicitly uses the “Taoist” label. Adherents in many other countries are rolled into broader buckets such as Protestant, Evangelical, or country-specific denominations, so this ranking undercounts global presence.