Religion in Brunei

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Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque at night Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque 02.jpg
Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque at night

Population by religion from the Brunei 2021 census [1]

  Islam (82.1%)
  Christianity (8.7%)
  Buddhism (7.8%)
  Others (4.7%)

Among religions in Brunei, Sunni Islam is predominant. In 2021, the government census showed that 82.1% of Brunei's population is Muslim. However, other religions also have a considerable foothold in Brunei: 8.7% of the population is Christian and another 7.8% is Buddhist. The remaining 5% subscribe to various religions, including indigenous religions. [2]

Islam is the state religion of Brunei, but freedom of religion is guaranteed. This freedom however, limited for several cases. [3] The right to practice privately is given to a plethora of religions. [3] Furthermore, some non-Islamic holidays, such as Lunar New Year, Christmas, Vesak day and Gawai Dayak, are recognised. [3] These rights however, are limited: religious education is controlled, even in the Chinese, Christian and private schools, and any non-Islamic religious materials being distributed are gazetted as illegal and tightly forbidden; where if caught it will result in an immediate death punishment without judgment and the involved materials are subject to confiscation, based on the 2014 Shariah Penal Code Ordinance. [3]

The state madh'hab of Islam is the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence of Sunni Islam. [4] Most of Brunei's Muslim population subscribe to the Shafi'i school as well, and Shafi'i is a major source of law for the country. [4] However, with the Sultan's permission, lawmakers may also consult the other three Sunni schools of fiqh. [4]

In Brunei, non-Muslims must be at least 14 years and 7 months old if they want to convert to another religion. A minor will automatically become a Muslim if his parents convert to Islam. [5]

Brunei Darussalam Official Censuses [6]
Religion1981 Census1991 Census2001 Census2011 Census2016 Census
NumberPercentNumberPercentNumberPercentNumberPercentNumberPercent
Islam122,26963.4%174,97367.2%249,82275%309,96278.8%337,39180.9%
Buddhism27,06314.1%33,38712.8%28,4808.6%30,8147.8%29,4957%
Christianity18,7679.7%25,99410%31,2919.4%34,1768.7%29,5107.1%
Others24,73312.8%26,12810%23,2517%18,4204.7%20,8605%
Total:192,832100%260,482100%332,844100%393,272100%417,256100%
Religion in Brunei Darussalam based on Ethnicity (2011 Estimate) [5]
EthnicityIslamBuddhismChristianityFolk Religion / Others
Malays100%N/A (All Malays are Muslims according to the Bruneian Law.)
Chinese14%65%20%1%
Aborigines50%N/A15%35%
Non-Citizens50%15%33%2%
Total:78.8%7.8%8.7%4.7%

See also

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References

  1. US State Dept 2022 report
  2. US State Dept 2022 report
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Brunei". Background Notes. United States State Department. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "Brunei". emory.edu. Emory. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  5. 1 2 "Brunei". United States Department of State 2019 report. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  6. "Population by Religion, Sex and Census Year".