 The number of Taoists is difficult to estimate , due to a variety of factors including defining Taoism . According to a survey of religion in China in the year 2010 , the number of people practicing some form of Chinese folk religion is near to 950 million ( 70 % of the Chinese ) . Among these , 173 million ( 13 % ) practice some form of Taoist @-@ defined folk faith . Further in detail , 12 million people have passed some formal initiation into Taoism , or adhere exclusively to it . 
