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]
Population by religion from the Brunei 2021 census[1]
Islam is the state religion of Brunei, but freedom of religion is guaranteed. This freedom however, is 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][failed verification]
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]
| 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: | ||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ US State Dept 2022 report
- ^ US State Dept 2022 report
- ^ a b c d "Brunei". Background Notes. United States State Department. Retrieved 8 May 2011.
- ^ a b c "Brunei". emory.edu. Emory. Retrieved 11 May 2011.
- ^ a b "Brunei". United States Department of State 2019 report. Retrieved 2020-12-05.
- ^ "Population by Religion, Sex and Census Year".
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