Religion in Brunei

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]

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%)

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]
Religion 1981 Census 1991 Census 2001 Census 2011 Census 2016 Census
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Islam 122,269 63.4% 174,973 67.2% 249,822 75% 309,962 78.8% 337,391 80.9%
Buddhism 27,063 14.1% 33,387 12.8% 28,480 8.6% 30,814 7.8% 29,495 7%
Christianity 18,767 9.7% 25,994 10% 31,291 9.4% 34,176 8.7% 29,510 7.1%
Others 24,733 12.8% 26,128 10% 23,251 7% 18,420 4.7% 20,860 5%
Total: 192,832 100% 260,482 100% 332,844 100% 393,272 100% 417,256 100%
Religion in Brunei Darussalam based on Ethnicity (2011 Estimate) [5]
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%
Aborigines 50% N/A 15% 35%
Non-Citizens 50% 15% 33% 2%
Total: 78.8% 7.8% 8.7% 4.7%

See also

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


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