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Religion in Brunei

Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddin Mosque at night
Population by religion from the Brunei 2021 census[1]
  1. Islam (82.1%)
  2. Christianity (6.70%)
  3. Buddhism (6.30%)
  4. Others (4.90%)

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: 6.7% of the population is Christian and another 6.3% is Buddhist. The remaining 4.9% subscribe to various religions, including indigenous religions.[2]

Islam is the state religion of Brunei. Freedom of religion and the right to practice privately are nominally guaranteed. Furthermore, some non-Islamic holidays, such as Lunar New Year, Christmas, Vesak day and Gawai Dayak, are recognised. These rights, however, are limited in practice: religious education is controlled, even in the Chinese, Christian and private schools. Brunei’s penal code criminalizes efforts to promote religions other than Islam to Muslims or the non-religious, including persuading religious conversion, exposing Muslim children to other faiths, or opposing Islamic authorities. It also punishes those who assist in such acts. These provisions marginalize non-Muslims and non-believers, severely restricting their religious freedom in violation of international human rights standards.[3] 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.[4]

The state madh'hab of Islam is the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence of Sunni Islam.[5] 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.[5] However, with the Sultan's permission, lawmakers may also consult the other three Sunni schools of fiqh.[5]

Brunei Darussalam Official Censuses [6]
Islam Christianity Buddhism Others Total:
1981 Census Number 122,269 18,767 27,063 24,733 192,832
Percent
63.4%
9.7%
14.1%
12.8%
100%
1991 Census Number 174,973 25,994 33,387 26,128 260,482
Percent
67.2%
10%
12.8%
10%
100%
2001 Census Number 249,822 31,291 28,480 23,251 332,844
Percent
75%
9.4%
8.6%
7%
100%
2011 Census Number 309,962 34,176 30,814 18,420 393,272
Percent
78.8%
8.7%
7.8%
4.7%
100%
2016 Census Number 337,391 29,510 29,495 20,860 417,256
Percent
80.9%
7.1%
7%
5%
100%
2021 Census Number 362,035 29,462 27,745 21,473 440,715
Percent
82.1%
6.7%
6.3%
4.9%
100%
Religion in Brunei Darussalam based on Ethnicity (2011 Estimate) [4]
Ethnicity Islam Buddhism Christianity Folk Religion / Others
Malays
100%
 N/A (All Malays are Muslims according to the Bruneian Law.)
Chinese
14%
65%
20%
1%
Indigenous tribes
50%
 N/A
15%
35%
Non-Citizens
50%
15%
33%
2%
Total:
78.8%
7.8%
8.7%
4.7%

Islam

[edit]
Main article: Islam in Brunei

Islam is Brunei's official religion, 82.70 percent of the population is Muslim. There were 362,035 Sunni Muslims in Brunei as of 2021—190,314 men and 171,721 women. 193 people converted to Islam in Brunei–Muara District, 78 in Belait District, 112 in Tutong District, and 15 in Temburong District in 2023. The number of Bruneian converts to Islam has increased ever since Islam became the official religion of the country in 1954. And by 2004, it was recorded that over 16,000 Bruneians had converted to Islam. From 2009 to 2020, there have been 5,884 individuals who have converted to Islam in Brunei.

Minority faiths

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Buddhism

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Buddhism in Brunei.[edit]
Historical Population of Bruneian Buddhists
YearPop.±%
197118,373—    
198127,063+47.3%
199133,387+23.4%
200128,480−14.7%
201130,814+8.2%
201629,495−4.3%
Source: Bruneian Department of Statistics [7]
Buddhism is the third largest religion in Brunei, after the majority state religion of Islam, and the slightly larger minority religion Christianity.[8] Estimates vary, but some reports place the number of Buddhists in Brunei around 30,000,[8] and the estimated percentage of Buddhists in Brunei around 7–8% of the total population.[8][9][10] According to Brunei's official 2016 data, 7% (29,495) of the population practices Buddhism.[10]

Christianity

[edit]
This section is an excerpt from Christianity in Brunei.[edit]
Historical Population of Bruneian Christians
YearPop.±%
198118,767—    
199125,994+38.5%
200131,291+20.4%
201134,176+9.2%
201629,510−13.7%
Source: Bruneian Department of Statistics [11]
Christianity in Brunei is the second largest religion practiced by about 8.7% of the population as of 2022.[12] Other reports suggest that this number may be as high as 12%.[13]

Hinduism

[edit]

Almost the entire Hindu community in Brunei is made up of people of Indian origin. The approximate size is a few thousand. There are two Hindu temples in Brunei. According to the 2001 census, 124 of the Hindus are citizens and another 91 are permanent residents. The rest are non-citizens.[14]

Hinduism is practised by a minority of ethnic Tamils,[15] which comprises mainly doctors, engineers working in Brunei and others working in the education sector, both at school and university or college level as professors and teachers as well as research personnel.[16] There is a Nepalese community in Seria, Belait in Brunei, made up of members of the British Army 's Brigade of Gurkhas. Historically, they have contributed in ensuring Brunei's autonomy[17][18] Brunei's Hindu Welfare Board is a 50 year old Hindu religious organisation with approximately 3,000 members and there are two small Hindu temples in the country.[19][20]

Though there are two Hindu temples, only one is officially registered under Brunei's government.[21] The temple is located on the territory of the Gurkha Regiments in Seria, Brunei. This Hindu temple is visited for prayer by the local Hindu and Buddhist communities.[22][23]

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ US State Dept 2022 report
  2. ^ US State Dept 2022 report
  3. ^ "Brunei's Pernicious New Penal Code | Human Rights Watch". 2019-05-22. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  4. ^ a b "Brunei". United States Department of State 2019 report. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
  5. ^ a b c "Brunei". emory.edu. Emory. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Population by Religion, Sex and Census Year".
  7. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-10-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. ^ a b c "Religions in Brunei | PEW-GRF". www.globalreligiousfutures.org. Archived from the original on 2019-03-22. Retrieved 2020-06-06.
  9. ^ "CIA FactBook - Brunei". Archived from the original on 2015-07-21. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  10. ^ a b ""Population by Religion, Sex and Census Year"". www.deps.gov.bn. Archived from the original on 2021-04-01. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
  11. ^ "Population by Religion, Sex and Census Year".
  12. ^ US State Dept 2022 report
  13. ^ Open Doors website, Retrieved 2023-08-01
  14. ^ "IRF 2006 Report".
  15. ^ Orr, Tamra (2009-01-01). Brunei. Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 9780761431213.
  16. ^ "India sees prospects for work in Brunei's education sector Archived 2012-01-02 at the Wayback Machine", The Brunei Times, 12 October 2011.
  17. ^ Asia Times
  18. ^ "His Majesty visits the First Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles at Tuker Lines, Seria".
  19. ^ "Religious Life and Institutions in Brunei", ISIM Newsletter, 27 September 2010.
  20. ^ "BSBIA hosts cultural gathering to mark Indian Independence Day – Borneo Bulletin Online". borneobulletin.com.bn. Archived from the original on 2017-08-20.
  21. ^ United States Department of State
  22. ^ "Vedic Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) - वैदिकः सनातनो धर्मः". Facebook.
  23. ^ "Population and Housing Census Update Final Report 2016" (PDF). www.deps.gov.bn. Statistics Department. December 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2021.


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