Nearly One in Four Singapore Residents Has No Religion
The 2025 General Household Survey found 23.9 percent of residents aged 15 and over had no religion, up from 20 percent in 2020, while Buddhism remained the largest faith.
Topics: society and culture
Example
What happened: The General Household Survey 2025, released on 30 June 2026, found that 23.9 percent of Singapore residents aged 15 and over had no religion, up from 20 percent in the 2020 Census. Buddhists were the largest group at 30.9 percent, followed by Christians (17.1 percent), Muslims (15 percent), Taoists and Hindus. The shares of most major religions fell slightly.
Use it for: Singapore is becoming less religious, but slowly, and it remains one of the most religiously diverse societies, so religion still shapes daily life and policy.
Why it matters: more education and global influences tend to weaken religious affiliation among the young, but in Singapore no single faith dominates, so harmony still depends on managing many faiths living side by side.
Limit: Survey figures count stated affiliation, not belief or practice; "no religion" does not mean no spiritual belief, and a five-year change of four points is a trend, not a transformation.
Key facts
- In 2025, 23.9 percent of Singapore residents aged 15 and over had no religious affiliation, up from 20 percent in 2020.
- Buddhists made up 30.9 percent, Christians 17.1 percent and Muslims 15 percent of residents aged 15 and over in 2025.
- The proportions identifying with Buddhism, Taoism, Christianity and Islam declined between 2020 and 2025, with the rise in those without religion the most significant change.
How to use this example in a GP essay
Is religion still relevant in modern society?
Claim
Singapore is becoming less religious, but slowly, and it remains one of the most religiously diverse societies, so religion still shapes daily life and policy
How the evidence supports it
more education and global influences tend to weaken religious affiliation among the young, but in Singapore no single faith dominates, so harmony still depends on managing many faiths living side by side
Limitation
Survey figures count stated affiliation, not belief or practice; "no religion" does not mean no spiritual belief, and a five-year change of four points is a trend, not a transformation.
Relevance
It gives exact, current Singapore figures for questions on whether religion is declining.
Limitations
- Survey figures count stated affiliation, not belief or practice; "no religion" does not mean no spiritual belief, and a five-year change of four points is a trend, not a transformation.
Evaluations
society and culture evaluation
Support
A rise from 20 to almost 24 percent in five years shows a clear shift away from religious affiliation, especially relevant for essays on whether religion is losing its place.
Counterargument
More than three in four residents still have a religion, and no single faith is a majority, so religion remains central to how many Singaporeans live.
Rebuttal
Both trends matter: religion is slowly declining in reach while remaining diverse and important, so the answer to "is religion still relevant" is yes, but in a changing way.
Additional support
Buddhism, at about 31 percent, is the largest single group but far from a majority, which is why Singapore's laws treat all religions alike rather than favouring one.
Sources
- Department of Statistics Singapore (2026-06-30): General Household Survey 2025: Religion
- The Star (Straits Times via ANN) (2026-06-30): More Singapore residents have no religion in 2025 than in 2020