Datasets
Buddhism and Taoism Institution Anchors
Dated SingStat and federation anchors for Singapore Buddhism and Taoism — 2020 census shares, SBF membership, Taoist Federation founding, and the absence of a MUIS-style statutory administration.
Buddhism and Taoism Institution Anchors
Census shares describe reported affiliation among residents aged 15+, not attendance. Neither tradition has a MUIS-equivalent statutory board.
Census (2020)
| Metric | Value | Denominator / note |
|---|---|---|
| Buddhism share | 31.1% | Residents aged 15+; was 33.3% in 2010 |
| Taoism / Chinese traditional beliefs | 8.8% | Same denominator; was 10.9% in 2010 |
| Combined headline arithmetic | About 40% | Do not treat as mutually exclusive or as "all Chinese religion" |
| Chinese ethnicity ≠ Buddhist/Taoist | Not every Chinese resident reports either faith | See religion demographics |
Source: SingStat COP2020 religion infographic, accessed 8 Aug 2026.
Singapore Buddhist Federation (SBF)
| Anchor | Value |
|---|---|
| Registry of Societies registration | 1949; charity 1990 |
| Institutional members (Sep 2022) | 117 |
| Individual members (Sep 2022) | 124 |
| Statutory role | None — voluntary federation, not national regulator |
Source: SBF About, accessed 8 Aug 2026.
Taoist Federation (Singapore)
| Anchor | Value |
|---|---|
| ROS approval | February 1990 |
| Inauguration | 11 March 1990 at Tong Whye Temple |
| Governance model | Temple-based council of member temples |
| Statutory role | None — national coordinating body only |
Source: Taoist Federation history, accessed 8 Aug 2026.
Festival / public-holiday traps
| Observance | Status |
|---|---|
| Vesak Day | Gazetted public holiday (2026 date: 31 May per MOM) |
| Nine Emperor Gods / other Taoist festivals | Major community observances; not all are national public holidays |
Denominator traps
- No MUIS equivalent — temples register as societies/charities under general law (religious governance register).
- Buddhist + Taoist % ≠ single population — census allows one affiliation; syncretic practice is common.
- 31.1% Buddhist ≠ 31.1% of total population — excludes non-residents and residents under 15.
Record details
- Also known as
- ["Buddhist 31.1 percent","Taoist 8.8 percent","SBF 117 members","Taoist Federation 1990"]
- Jurisdiction
- SG
- What each row represents
- one dated anchor in buddhism-taoism-institution-anchors
- Update cadence
- when primary sources revise anchored facts
- Source format
- markdown
Dates describe this record’s own period and applicability. A verification date does not mean a rule is currently in force.
Sources
- SingStat — Census 2020 religion infographic Accessed 2026-08-08
- Singapore Buddhist Federation — About Accessed 2026-08-08
- Taoist Federation (Singapore) — History Accessed 2026-08-08
- MOM — Public holidays for 2026 Accessed 2026-08-08
Collection as of 2026-10-07 · An expanding collection. Published counts show available knowledge, not complete coverage of Singapore.