<P> China is the country with the largest population of Buddhists, approximately 244 million or 18.2% of its total population . They are mostly followers of Chinese schools of Mahayana, making this the largest body of Buddhist traditions . Mahayana, also practiced in broader East Asia, is followed by over half of the world's Buddhists . </P> <P> The second largest body of Buddhist schools is Theravada, mostly followed in Southeast Asia . The third and smallest body of schools, Vajrayana, is followed mostly in Tibet, the Himalayan region, Mongolia and parts of Russia, but is disseminated throughout the world . </P> <P> According to a demographic analysis reported by Peter Harvey (2013): </P> <Ul> <Li> Eastern Buddhism (Mahayana) has 360 million adherents; </Li> <Li> Southern Buddhism (Theravada) has 150 million adherents; and </Li> <Li> Northern Buddhism (Vajrayana) has 18.2 million adherents . </Li> <Li> Seven million additional Buddhists are found outside Asia . </Li> </Ul>

Which of the following branches of buddhism is predominantly practiced in east asia