Bhutanese society is centered around the practice of Buddhism, which is the main religion. Religious beliefs are evidenced in all aspects of life. Prayer flags flutter on hillsides, offering up prayers to benefit all nearby sentient beings. Houses each fly a small white flag on the roof indicating the owner has made his offering payments to appease the local god. Each valley or district is dominated by a huge dzong, or high-walled fortress, which serves the religious and administrative center of the district.
Approximately 23% of the population is Hindu. There is a small Muslim population in Bhutan, covering 1.6% of the whole country's population. Overall, 75% of the population is Buddhist, and 0.4% other religions.