State religion

===Buddhism===
Governments where [[Buddhism]], either a specific form of it, or Buddhism as a whole, has been established as an official religion:
* {{flagicon|Bhutan}} [[Buddhism in Bhutan|Bhutan]]: The [[Constitution of Bhutan|Constitution]] defines Buddhism as the "spiritual heritage of Bhutan". [[Constitution of Bhutan|The Constitution of Bhutan]] is based on [[Buddhist philosophy]].<ref>{{Cite web|website=The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan |title=Background|url=http://www.constitution.bt/html/sources/background.htm|access-date=2021-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100715193437/http://www.constitution.bt/html/sources/background.htm|archive-date=15 July 2010}}</ref> It also mandates that the [[Druk Gyalpo]] (King) should appoint the [[Je Khenpo]] and [[Dratshang Lhentshog]] (The Commission for Monastic Affairs).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.constitution.bt/draft_constitution_3rd_en.pdf |title=Draft of Tsa Thrim Chhenmo |date=1 August 2007 |publisher=constitution.bt |access-date=2007-10-18 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071127125443/http://www.constitution.bt/draft_constitution_3rd_en.pdf |archive-date=27 November 2007}}

:Article 3, Spiritual Heritage
:#Buddhism is the spiritual heritage of Bhutan, which promotes the principles and values of peace, non-violence, compassion and tolerance.
:#The ''[[Druk Gyalpo]]'' is the protector of all religions in Bhutan.
:#It shall be the responsibility of religious institutions and personalities to promote the spiritual heritage of the country while also ensuring that religion remains separate from politics in Bhutan. Religious institutions and personalities shall remain above politics.
:#The ''Druk Gyalpo'' shall, on the recommendation of the Five ''Lopon''s, appoint a learned and respected monk ordained in accordance with the ''Druk-lu'', blessed with the nine qualities of a spiritual master and accomplished in ''ked-dzog'', as the ''[[Je Khenpo]]''.
:#His Holiness the ''Je Khenpo'' shall, on the recommendation of the ''[[Dratshang Lhentshog]]'', appoint monks blessed with the nine qualities of a spiritual master and accomplished in ''ked-dzog'' as the Five ''Lopon''s.
:#The members of the ''Dratshang Lhentshog'' shall comprise:<br />{{pad|2em}}(a) The ''Je Khenpo'' as Chairman;<br />{{pad|2em}}(b) The Five ''Lopon''s of the ''Zhung Dratshang''; and<br />{{pad|2em}}(c) The Secretary of the ''Dratshang Lhentshog'' who is a civil servant.
:#The ''Zhung Dratshang'' and ''Rabdeys'' shall continue to receive adequate funds and other facilities from the State.{{cite web|title=Bhutan's Constitution of 2008|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Bhutan_2008.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org/|access-date=29 October 2017}}
</ref>
* {{flagicon|Cambodia}} [[Buddhism in Cambodia|Cambodia]]: The [[Constitution of Cambodia|Constitution]] declared Buddhism as the official religion of the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cambodia.org/facts/?government=The+Constitution+of+Cambodia |title=Constitution of Cambodia |publisher=cambodia.org |access-date=2011-04-13 }} (Article 43).</ref> About 98% of Cambodia's population is Buddhist.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/cambodia/|title=East Asia/Southeast Asia :: Cambodia – The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency|website=cia.gov|date=24 November 2021}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Myanmar}} [[Buddhism in Myanmar|Myanmar]]: Section 361 of the [[Constitution of Myanmar|Constitution]] states that "The Union recognizes special position of Buddhism as the faith professed by the great majority of the citizens of the Union."<ref>{{cite web |title=Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (2008) |url=https://www.constitutionaltribunal.gov.mm/lawdatabase/my/download/file/fid/137 |website=Constitutional Tribunal of the Union |access-date= |archive-date=3 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230203163744/https://www.constitutionaltribunal.gov.mm/lawdatabase/my/download/file/fid/137 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The 1961 State Religion Promotion and Support Act requires : to teach Buddhist lessons in schools, to give priority to Buddhist [[kyaung|monasteries]] in founding of primary schools, to make [[Uposatha]] days holidays during [[Vassa]] months, to broadcast Buddhist sermons by State media on Uposatha days, and other promotion and supports for Buddhism as State Religion.<ref>{{cite web|title=၁၉၆၁ ခုနှစ်၊ နိုင်ငံတော်ဘာသာသာသနာချီးမြှောက်ထောက်ပံ့ရေးအက်ဥပဒေ|trans-title=1961 year, State Religion Promotion and Support Act|url=https://www.constitutionaltribunal.gov.mm/lawdatabase/my/law/764|website=Constitutional Tribunal of the Union, Law Library|quote=|access-date=25 October 2022|archive-date=25 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221025023633/https://www.constitutionaltribunal.gov.mm/lawdatabase/my/law/764|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Sri Lanka}} [[Buddhism in Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]]: The constitution of Sri Lanka states under Chapter II, Article 9, "The Republic of Sri Lanka declares Buddhism as the state religion and accordingly it shall be the duty of the Head of State and Head of Government to protect and foster the [[Śāsana|Buddha Sasana]]".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/reports/2018-report-on-international-religious-freedom/sri-lanka/|title=Sri Lanka}}</ref>

In some countries, Buddhism is not recognized as a state religion, but holds special status:
* {{flagicon|Thailand}} [[Buddhism in Thailand|Thailand]]: Article 67 of the [[Thai constitution]]: "The State should support and protect Buddhism". In supporting and protecting Buddhism, the State should promote and support education and dissemination of dharmic principles of Theravada Buddhism, and shall have measures and mechanisms to prevent Buddhism from being undermined in any form. The State should also encourage Buddhists to participate in implementing such measures or mechanisms.<ref>{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand|url=http://www.constitutionnet.org/sites/default/files/2017-05/CONSTITUTION%2BOF%2BTHE%2BKINGDOM%2BOF%2BTHAILAND%2B%28B.E.%2B2560%2B%282017%29%29.pdf|website=ConstitutionNet|access-date=29 October 2017 |quote=Section 67. The State should support and protect Buddhism [...] In supporting and protecting Buddhism, [...] the State should promote and support education and dissemination of dharmic principles of Theravada Buddhism [...], and shall have measures and mechanisms to prevent Buddhism from being undermined in any form. The State should also encourage Buddhists to participate in implementing such measures or mechanisms. }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Laos}} [[Buddhism in Laos|Laos]]: According to the Lao Constitution, Buddhism is given special privilege in the country. The state respects and protects all the lawful activities of Buddhism.<ref>{{cite web|title=Lao People's Democratic Republic's Constitution of 1991 with Amendments through 2003|url=https://constituteproject.org/constitution/Laos_2003.pdf?lang=en|website=constituteproject.org|access-date=29 October 2017|quote=Article 9: The State respects and protects all lawful activities of Buddhists and of followers of other religions, [and] mobilises and encourages Buddhist monks and novices as well as the priests of other religions to participate in activities that are beneficial to the country and people.}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Kalmykia}} [[Kalmykia]] ([[Russia]]): The local Government supports Buddhism and also encourages Buddhist teachings and traditions. It also builds various Buddhist temples and sites. Various efforts are taken by the Government for the revival of Buddhism in the republic.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Sinclair|first=Tara|date=2008|title=Tibetan Reform and the Kalmyk Revival of Buddhism|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23615096|journal=Inner Asia|volume=10|issue=2|pages=241–259|doi=10.1163/000000008793066713|jstor=23615096|issn=1464-8172}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Buddhism in Russia: challenges and choices in the post-Soviet period|url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/273961382|access-date=2021-02-03|website=ResearchGate|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Kalmykia: few complaints over Kalmykia's state support for Buddhism|url=https://english.religion.info/2003/04/15/kalmykia-few-complaints-over-kalmykias-state-support-for-buddhism/|access-date=2021-02-03|website=english.religion.info}}</ref>