census of population 2010
Taoists and Buddhists still biggest group
Proportion of Christians rises; proportions of Hindus, Muslims stable
By Yen Feng
THE two traditional religions of the Chinese still have the largest following in Singapore - but for the first time in 30 years, they have seen a reversal in trends.
Taoism has not just stanched the decline in its believer numbers, apparent since 1980, but also claimed new believers. Some 10.9 per cent of residents are Taoists, according to the 2010 census, compared with 8.5 per cent a decade ago.
Buddhism, on the other hand, lost ground. The proportion of Buddhists fell - the first dip since 1980 - from 42.5 per cent to 33.3 per cent over the period.
Yesterday, Taoist Federation chairman Tan Thiam Lye credited the upswing to efforts by the religious body to establish the faith as one distinct from Buddhism.
'Our religious classes and workshops have paid off,' he said. 'This is a sign we're headed in the right direction.'
Another surprise was in the proportion of Christians, which grew from 14.6 per cent to 18.3 per cent. Some had expected the figure to jump higher, given the prominent rise of churches in recent years.
Dr Lai Ah Eng, the editor of the 2009 book Religious Diversity In Singapore, said one reason may be that conversions among older people in traditional faiths are tapering off.
Of the other faiths, the proportions of Muslims and Hindus have remained relatively stable at 14.7 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively.
The proportion of those who are non-religious - mainly atheists and agnostics - grew slightly from 14.8 per cent to 17 per cent.
Overall, the largest shift in religious affiliation occurred among the Chinese. Among them, the percentage that subscribes to either of the two traditional faiths fell from 64.4 per cent in 2000 to 57.4 per cent last year.
Those who left the faiths became Christians or have no religion.
Among the Indians, Hindus carved out a slender majority of 58.9 per cent, up from 55.4 per cent in 2000. The rest are mostly Muslims, followed by Christians.
The proportion of Malays who are Muslim stands even at 98.7 per cent.
When it comes to age groups, Christianity and the non-religious saw their proportions increase across all age groups.
Conversely, the two Chinese faiths taken together saw their proportions decrease across the board, due partly to the overall Buddhist decline.
The new figures bear out trends among younger and older residents: Those who are younger are more likely to profess no religion, while older people are more likely to be Buddhist or Taoist.
Nearly all faith groups achieved an overall increase in education levels.
Buddhists and Taoists are still more likely to be less educated, compared with those of other faiths, although the proportion of those with university degrees did increase since 2000.
But they still make up the bulk of people who are least educated: A total of 61.5 per cent of people who did not complete secondary school education are of the two faiths.
Both Muslims and Hindus increased their proportions of followers with at least post-secondary education.
The education profile of Christians, however, appears to have backslided in the last 10 years. Last year, the proportion of Christians with only secondary education or below increased.
The faith, however, remains popular with university graduates, with nearly one in three professing to be Christian.
Those with no religion are also more likely to be degree holders. Among university graduates, nearly one in four had no religion.
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S'PORE'S RELIGIONS IN NUMBERS
BUDDHISTS: 33.3%
TAOISTS: 10.9%
CHRISTIANS: 18.3%
MUSLIMS: 14.7%
HINDUS: 5.1%
Taoists and Buddhists still biggest group
Proportion of Christians rises; proportions of Hindus, Muslims stable
By Yen Feng
THE two traditional religions of the Chinese still have the largest following in Singapore - but for the first time in 30 years, they have seen a reversal in trends.
Taoism has not just stanched the decline in its believer numbers, apparent since 1980, but also claimed new believers. Some 10.9 per cent of residents are Taoists, according to the 2010 census, compared with 8.5 per cent a decade ago.
Buddhism, on the other hand, lost ground. The proportion of Buddhists fell - the first dip since 1980 - from 42.5 per cent to 33.3 per cent over the period.
Yesterday, Taoist Federation chairman Tan Thiam Lye credited the upswing to efforts by the religious body to establish the faith as one distinct from Buddhism.
'Our religious classes and workshops have paid off,' he said. 'This is a sign we're headed in the right direction.'
Another surprise was in the proportion of Christians, which grew from 14.6 per cent to 18.3 per cent. Some had expected the figure to jump higher, given the prominent rise of churches in recent years.
Dr Lai Ah Eng, the editor of the 2009 book Religious Diversity In Singapore, said one reason may be that conversions among older people in traditional faiths are tapering off.
Of the other faiths, the proportions of Muslims and Hindus have remained relatively stable at 14.7 per cent and 5.1 per cent respectively.
The proportion of those who are non-religious - mainly atheists and agnostics - grew slightly from 14.8 per cent to 17 per cent.
Overall, the largest shift in religious affiliation occurred among the Chinese. Among them, the percentage that subscribes to either of the two traditional faiths fell from 64.4 per cent in 2000 to 57.4 per cent last year.
Those who left the faiths became Christians or have no religion.
Among the Indians, Hindus carved out a slender majority of 58.9 per cent, up from 55.4 per cent in 2000. The rest are mostly Muslims, followed by Christians.
The proportion of Malays who are Muslim stands even at 98.7 per cent.
When it comes to age groups, Christianity and the non-religious saw their proportions increase across all age groups.
Conversely, the two Chinese faiths taken together saw their proportions decrease across the board, due partly to the overall Buddhist decline.
The new figures bear out trends among younger and older residents: Those who are younger are more likely to profess no religion, while older people are more likely to be Buddhist or Taoist.
Nearly all faith groups achieved an overall increase in education levels.
Buddhists and Taoists are still more likely to be less educated, compared with those of other faiths, although the proportion of those with university degrees did increase since 2000.
But they still make up the bulk of people who are least educated: A total of 61.5 per cent of people who did not complete secondary school education are of the two faiths.
Both Muslims and Hindus increased their proportions of followers with at least post-secondary education.
The education profile of Christians, however, appears to have backslided in the last 10 years. Last year, the proportion of Christians with only secondary education or below increased.
The faith, however, remains popular with university graduates, with nearly one in three professing to be Christian.
Those with no religion are also more likely to be degree holders. Among university graduates, nearly one in four had no religion.
[email protected]
S'PORE'S RELIGIONS IN NUMBERS
BUDDHISTS: 33.3%
TAOISTS: 10.9%
CHRISTIANS: 18.3%
MUSLIMS: 14.7%
HINDUS: 5.1%
