Our Religion

When the migrants came to Singapore, they brought along with them their various religions.

Looking at the Singapore skyline, it is not uncommon to see a church steeple next to an ornate Chinese temple roof, or the minaret of a mosque next to intricately carved figurines of gods on the rooftop of a Hindu temple.

Perhaps due to the large Chinese population, the dominant religion in Singapore is Buddhism with almost 43% of the resident population practising it.

Christianity, Islam, Taoism and Hinduism make up the rest. There is also a small number of Sikhs and Jews. The rest of the population follow other or no religions.

Chinese Religions

If you visit a Chinese temple in Singapore, you will notice that it is a mix of Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism and ancestral worship. Followers of the Tao (The Way) observe the religious philosophy teachings of Lao Tzu.

Most Buddhists here are of the Mahayana school; others practise Theravada Buddhism. Buddhism is one of the main religions in Singapore.

Christianity

Practised by almost 15% of the resident population, Christianity in Singapore is made up of many denominations.

The religion started taking root on the island with the arrival of the first Protestant missionary after Singapore was founded.

Today, Christianity is one of the four main religions in Singapore.

Islam

Almost all the Malays in Singapore are Muslims.

Muslims follow the religious teachings of the Prophet of Allah, Muhammad.

Islam is also one of the four main religions here.

Hinduism

Like most of the other religions, Hinduism was brought to Singapore by the migrants after the founding in 1819.

Today, it is one of the four main religions on the island.

Others

Besides the four main religions, there is also a small number of Sikhs, Jews, Zoroastrians and Jains.

There are two synagogues and a few Sikh temples in Singapore.