Recent government survey data shows that one in four Singapore residents reported having no religious affiliation in 2025. Despite the retreat from traditional institutions, a study by the Pew Research think tank discovered that nearly nine in 10 adults still believe in God or unseen beings. Observers note that younger individuals increasingly demand tangible benefits from their spiritual lives while facing high-pressure daily routines. As a result, many are adopting alternative divination and personalized practices to explore morality and community independently.
Key points
Disaffiliation from established religious institutions is accelerating across Singapore e…: Disaffiliation from established religious institutions is accelerating across Singapore even as personal spiritual belief remains exceptionally high.
Pressures from fast-paced lifestyles and desires for tangible benefits are pushing younge…: Pressures from fast-paced lifestyles and desires for tangible benefits are pushing younger people away from traditional structures.
Rising interest in alternative divination and spiritual practices is altering how communi…: Rising interest in alternative divination and spiritual practices is altering how community and morality are experienced outside formal religions.
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In Your Opinion Podcast
Are Singaporeans losing faith in organised religion?
More Singapore residents report having no religious affiliation, rising from one in five in 2020 to one in four in 2025, according to the Department of Statistics’ latest General Household Survey 2025.
But a separate report by US-based think tank Pew Research found that almost nine in 10 Singapore adults surveyed still believe in God or unseen beings, higher than other South-east Asian countries such as Cambodia and Thailand.
Is this growth in non-affiliation a cause for concern for Singapore, one of the most religiously diverse countries in the world? And what does religion do for us today?
In this episode, host Zachary Lim speaks with Dr Melvin Tay, a research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, to examine the changing religious landscape in Singapore. They also discuss whether religious institutions are losing relevance, and the implications of alternative spiritual practices gaining traction among young people.
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