Ethnic and Religious Groups in Singapore

Chinese

• percentage of population: 76.4%
• languages and dialects spoken: Chinese (Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Mandarin, Teochew); English
• history and origins
• religions
  • Buddhist
  • Christian
  • Taoist
  • Confucianist
• popular culture, festivals, and other customs
  • Lantern Festival
  • Hungry Ghost Festival
  • Chinese New Year -- the biggest celebration of all in Singapore
  • Resources:
    • Linda Low, Chinese Adaptation and Diversity: Essays on Society and Literature in Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore. Ed. Leo Suryadinata. Singapore: World Scientific/Singapore UP, 1993.

Malay

• percentage of population: 14.9%
• languages and dialects spoken: Malay, English
• history and origins
• religions: Islam
• popular culture, festivals, and other customs
• historical photographs of Malay life

Indian

• percentage of population: 6.4%
• languages and dialects spoken: English, Tamil, Malaylee, Panjabi, Chinese, and Malay
• history and origins
• religions
  • Hindu
  • Muslim
  • Sikh
  • Christian
• popular culture, festivals, and other customs
  • Deepavali
  

Other

• percentage of population: 2.3%
• languages and dialects spoken: Malay, Chinese, English, bazaar Malay (now rarely used)
• history and origins
  • Introduction to Peranakan Culture
  • Introduction to the Eurasian Communities
• popular culture, festivals, and other customs
  • Christmas Decorations on Tanglin and Orchard Roads, 1998

Last modified: 30 September 2002