Religion in Brunei

Population by religion from the Brunei 2021 census^[1]

Islam (82.1%)

Christianity (8.7%)

Buddhism (7.8%)

Others (4.7%)

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]

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]

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]
		Islam	Christianity	Buddhism	Others	Total:
1981 Census	Number	122,269	18,767	27,063	24,733	192,832
1981 Census	Percent	63.4%	9.7%	14.1%	12.8%	100%
1991 Census	Number	174,973	25,994	33,387	26,128	260,482
1991 Census	Percent	67.2%	10%	12.8%	10%	100%
2001 Census	Number	249,822	31,291	28,480	23,251	332,844
2001 Census	Percent	75%	9.4%	8.6%	7%	100%
2011 Census	Number	309,962	34,176	30,814	18,420	393,272
2011 Census	Percent	78.8%	8.7%	7.8%	4.7%	100%
2016 Census	Number	337,391	29,510	29,495	20,860	417,256
2016 Census	Percent	80.9%	7.1%	7%	5%	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%

References

^ 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".