Religion | 1980 | 1990 | 2000 | 2010 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Buddhism | 27.0 | 31.2 | 42.5 | 33.3 |
Christianity | 10.1 | 12.7 | 14.6 | 18.3 |
No religion | 13.0 | 14.1 | 14.8 | 17.0 |
Islam | 15.7 | 15.3 | 14.9 | 14.7 |
Taoism/Chinese traditional beliefs | 30.0 | 22.4 | 8.5 | 10.9 |
Hinduism | 3.6 | 3.7 | 4.0 | 5.1 |
Other religions | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.7 |
Singapore generally allows religious freedom, although some religious sects are restricted or banned, such as Jehovah's Witness, due to its opposition of National Service. The majority of Malays are Muslim, the plurality of Chinese practise Buddhism and syncretic Chinese folk traditions. Christianity is growing among the Chinese, having overtaken Taoism as second most important religion among this ethnic group. Indians are mostly Hindus though many others are Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists and Christians. People who practice no religion form the third largest group in Singapore.
Religions of the main ethnic groups (2000):
Source: Census 2000.
Read more about this topic: Singaporean People
Famous quotes containing the word religion:
“We seem to be pariahs alike in the visible and the invisible world, with no foothold anywhere, though by every principle of government and religion we should have an equal place on this planet.”
—Elizabeth Cady Stanton (18151902)
“I do love this people [the French] with all my heart, and think that with a better religion and a better form of government and their present governors their condition and country would be most enviable.”
—Thomas Jefferson (17431826)
“I fancy it must be the quantity of animal food eaten by the English which renders their character insusceptible of civilisation. I suspect it is in their kitchens and not in their churches that their reformation must be worked, and that Missionaries of that description from [France] would avail more than those who should endeavor to tame them by precepts of religion or philosophy.”
—Thomas Jefferson (17431826)