user7290: I know labelling people is not in the spirit of Buddhism.  I am for example member of a Buddhist society, not because I'm so eager to be one but because in my country each religious society gets quite some money for having members (and if your not a member,  the church gets the money). 
But when do people (not born into a Buddhist country) call themselves Buddhists?

user408: I live in a country where most people are either atheist or christian. Estimates are that between 0.4 and 1% of all people here call themselves a Buddhist.
It's been my experience that there isn't a single agreed upon definition about when you can call yourself a Buddhist. Some people say you are a Buddhist if you consider yourself to be one, others say you need at least several years training from an acknowledged Buddhist teacher. This being said, most people I know (but certainly not all) regard the ceremony of 'taking refuge' as the moment when they became a true Buddhist. 
Personally I like the view of Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche who has written a book on the topic called "What Makes You Not a Buddhist":

It’s whether you agree with the four fundamental discoveries the Buddha made under the Bodhi tree, and if you do, you can call yourself a Buddhist (source).

Disclaimer: this answer is largely based on my own answer on a similar question

7290: <p>I know labelling people is not in the spirit of Buddhism.  I am for example member of a Buddhist society, not because I'm so eager to be one but because in my country each religious society gets quite some money for having members (and if your not a member,  the church gets the money). </p>

<p>But when do people (not born into a Buddhist country) call themselves Buddhists?</p>
 408: <p>I live in a country where most people are either atheist or christian. Estimates are that between 0.4 and 1% of all people here call themselves a Buddhist.</p>

<p>It's been my experience that there isn't a single agreed upon definition about when you can call yourself a Buddhist. Some people say you are a Buddhist if you consider yourself to be one, others say you need at least several years training from an acknowledged Buddhist teacher. This being said, most people I know (but certainly not all) regard the ceremony of '<a href="http://viewonbuddhism.org/refuge.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">taking refuge</a>' as the moment when they became a true Buddhist. </p>

<p>Personally I like the view of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dzongsar_Jamyang_Khyentse_Rinpoche" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche</a> who has written a book on the topic called "<a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/1590305701" rel="nofollow noreferrer">What Makes You Not a Buddhist</a>":</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>It’s whether you agree with the four fundamental discoveries the Buddha made under the Bodhi tree, and if you do, you can call yourself a Buddhist (<a href="http://www.lionsroar.com/what-makes-you-a-buddhist/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">source</a>).</p>
</blockquote>

<p><em>Disclaimer: this answer is largely based on <a href="https://buddhism.stackexchange.com/a/2033/408">my own answer on a similar question</a></em></p>
