Religion in Brunei
 | It has been suggested that Christianity in Brunei be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2025. |
| It has been suggested that Buddhism in Brunei be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since March 2025. |
- Islam (82.1%)
- Christianity (6.7%)
- Buddhism (6.3%)
- Others (4%)
- Korean shamanism (0.9%)
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 4.0% subscribe to various religions, and 0.9% indigenous religions, included Korean shamanism.[1]
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, and it is illegal to distribute any non-Islamic religious materials. Under the 2014 Shariah Penal Code Ordinance, such materials will immediately be confiscated, and the punishment for those distributing them is death.[2][failed verification]
The state madh'hab of Islam is the Shafi'i school of jurisprudence of Sunni Islam.[3] 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.[3] However, with the Sultan's permission, lawmakers may also consult the other three Sunni schools of fiqh.[3]
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.[4]
| Islam | Christianity | Buddhism | Others | Total: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 Census | Number | 122,269 | 18,767 | 27,063 | 24,733 | 192,832 |
| Percent | ||||||
| 1991 Census | Number | 174,973 | 25,994 | 33,387 | 26,128 | 260,482 |
| Percent | ||||||
| 2001 Census | Number | 249,822 | 31,291 | 28,480 | 23,251 | 332,844 |
| Percent | ||||||
| 2011 Census | Number | 309,962 | 34,176 | 30,814 | 18,420 | 393,272 |
| Percent | ||||||
| 2016 Census | Number | 337,391 | 29,510 | 29,495 | 20,860 | 417,256 |
| Percent | ||||||
| 2021 Census | Number | 362,035 | 29,462 | 27,745 | 21,473 | 440,715 |
| Percent | ||||||
| Ethnicity | Islam | Buddhism | Christianity | Folk Religion / Others |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malays | N/A (All Malays are Muslims according to the Bruneian Law.) | |||
| Chinese | ||||
| Aborigines | N/A | |||
| Non-Citizens | ||||
| Total: | ||||
Islam
[edit]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
[edit]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.[6]
Hinduism is practised by a minority of ethnic Tamils,[7] 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.[8] 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[9][10] 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.[11][12]
Though there are two Hindu temples, only one is officially registered under Brunei's government.[13] 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.[14][15]
Korean shamanism
[edit]Korean shamanism is the very minority religion in Brunei.[5] Because they're are mixed with other ethnic groups, the religion changed from full polytheistic religion to semi-polytheistic, because some Bruneian Sunni Muslim categorized the Korean shamanism is an religious movement that almost like religion.
Around 539 Korean shamanism followers in Brunei, 500 of them are from South Korean expatriates and other 39 was from local Brunei Malay and Kedayan people who was balanced their religion between Sunni Islam and Korean Shamanism.[4]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b US State Dept 2022 report
- ^ "Brunei". Background Notes. United States State Department. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ a b c "Brunei". emory.edu. Emory. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- ^ a b c "Brunei". United States Department of State 2019 report. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ a b "Population by Religion, Sex and Census Year".
- ^ "IRF 2006 Report".
- ^ Orr, Tamra (2009-01-01). Brunei. Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 9780761431213.
- ^ "India sees prospects for work in Brunei's education sector Archived 2012-01-02 at the Wayback Machine", The Brunei Times, 12 October 2011.
- ^ Asia Times
- ^ "His Majesty visits the First Battalion, the Royal Gurkha Rifles at Tuker Lines, Seria".
- ^ "Religious Life and Institutions in Brunei", ISIM Newsletter, 27 September 2010.
- ^ "BSBIA hosts cultural gathering to mark Indian Independence Day – Borneo Bulletin Online". borneobulletin.com.bn. Archived from the original on 2017-08-20.
- ^ United States Department of State
- ^ "Vedic Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism) - वैदिकः सनातनो धर्मः". Facebook.
- ^ "Population and Housing Census Update Final Report 2016" (PDF). www.deps.gov.bn. Statistics Department. December 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
