In 2020, 63.5 percent of the Malaysian population professed to be of the Islamic faith. The second-largest religion in Malaysia in that year was Buddhism, adhered to by 18.7 percent of the population.

This statistic presents the results of a survey on perceived percentage of the Muslim population in Malaysia as of 2018. According to data published by Ipsos, Malaysian respondents slightly overestimated the proportion of Muslim population in their country. On average, the respondents thought that around 69 out of every 100 people in Malaysia were Muslims, when the actual share of Muslim population was around 61 percent in Malaysia.

In 2023, it was estimated that approximately 87 percent of the Indonesian population were Muslim, accounting for the highest share of Muslims in any Southeast Asian country. Indonesia also has the world's largest Muslim population, with an estimated 229 million Muslims.

Demographics of Indonesia

The total population of Indonesia was estimated to reach around 290 million in 2028. The median age of the population in the country was at an all-time high in 2020 and was projected to increase continuously until the end of the century. In 2020, the population density in Indonesia reached its highest value recorded at about 145.7 people per square kilometer.

Shopping behavior during Ramadan in Indonesia

Nearly all Muslims in Indonesia celebrated Ramadan in 2022. During the month of Ramadan, 60 percent of Indonesian users utilized online applications to order food. Many Indonesians planned to shop online or offline during Ramadan, with around 76 percent of online users planning to purchase fashion wear and accessories. Shopee was the most used app for shopping purposes during that period.

As of July 2024, 70.4 percent of the Malaysian population were classified as Bumiputera, 22.4 percent were classified as ethnic Chinese, and 6.5 percent as ethnic Indians. Those who do not fall under these three main ethnic groups are classified as ‘Other’. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious society with three main ethnicities and language groups. Who are Malaysia’s Bumiputera? Bumiputera, meaning sons of the soil, is a term used to categorize the Malays, as well as the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia, also known as orang asli, and the indigenous peoples of Sabah and Sarawak. As of July 2023, the Bumiputera share of the population in Sabah was 89 percent, while that in Sarawak was 76.1 percent. Thus, the incorporation of the states of Sabah and Sarawak during the formation of Malaysia ensured that the ethnic Malays were able to maintain a majority share of the Malaysian population. Bumiputera privileges and ethnic-based politics The rights and privileges of the Malays and the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are enshrined in Article 153 of Malaysia’s constitution. This translated, in practice, to a policy of affirmative action to improve the economic situation of this particular group, through the New Economic Policy introduced in 1971. 50 years on, it is questionable whether the policy has achieved its aim. Bumiputeras still lag behind the other ethnic two major groups in terms of monthly household income. However, re-thinking this policy will certainly be met by opposition from those who have benefitted from it.

In a survey on the state of happiness in Malaysia conducted by Ipsos, 44 percent of respondents stated their religious or spiritual well-being does or could give them greatest happiness, while 41 percent of respondents stated that religion and spirituality were a source of some happiness. Globally, 57 percent of respondents stated that this was a source of happiness for them.

This statistic represents the opinion on the conflict between homosexuality and personal religion in Malaysia. According to the survey, 41 percent of respondents in Malaysia believed that there is conflict between homosexuality and their religious beliefs

In 2023, the number of non-Muslim marriages registered in Malaysia was approximately 48,000. This was an increase compared to the previous year. Muslims make up the majority of the population in Malaysia, while other major religions in the country include Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism.

A survey conducted in May 2022 revealed that 40 percent of Muslim respondents in Indonesia stated to be more religiously observant than their parents were at the same age. In Malaysia, a majority of 55 percent of the respondents felt that they were just as religiously observant as their parents were at their age. In both countries, the share of respondents feeling less religiously observant than their parents was the lowest.

In 2022, Indonesia has the largest population of Muslims worldwide with around 241.5 million. This was followed with around 225.6 million Muslims in Pakistan and 211.16 million Muslims in India.

Before the month of Ramadan in 2019, the number of people in Malaysia using religious apps increased by 82 percent in the first month of Ramadan. During Ramadan, however, this figure contracted by two percent. The month of Ramadan usually sees an increase in religious activity by the faithful, and religious apps could help in carrying out Ramadan-specific activities such as waking up for the pre-dawn meals, breaking fast, and keeping to prayer timings.

In 2022/23, the market size for Islamic fintech in Malaysia amounted to around 11.1 billion U.S. dollars, an increase of approximately six billion U.S. dollars compared to the market size recorded in 2021. The value of the Islamic fintech market in the country was forecasted to exceed 23 billion U.S. dollars by 2027. Vast potential in Islamic banking Islam is the majority religion in Malaysia, with around 63.5 percent of the population belonging to this religious group. The country also has a dual legal system, with Quranic-based Sharia law mainly governing the personal or family matters of the Malay Muslim population. Thus, there is a large market for Islamic finance in Malaysia. In 2022, the Southeast Asian country was the third-leading country with the largest Islamic banking assets in the world, after Iran and Saudi Arabia. Call for innovation in Islamic finance Acknowledging the potential of Islamic fintech, the current Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged 100 million Malaysian ringgit in May 2024 to foster innovation in Islamic finance. This financing has the potential to stimulate further growth in the country’s Islamic fintech market. As of 2023, there were 17 Islamic fintech companies in Malaysia. With support from the government, more Sharia-friendly fintech startups will likely flourish in the coming years.

A survey conducted in May 2022 revealed that more than 80 percent of Muslim respondents in Indonesia and Malaysia prayed more than five times a day, regardless of gender. In contrast, only three percent of surveyed men and two percent of surveyed women stated to pray less than once a week.

A survey conducted in May 2022 revealed that more than 90 percent of Muslim respondents in Indonesia and Malaysia considered praying an important practice, regardless of gender. In contrast, less than 50 percent of surveyed men and women considered performing the umrah important.

The statistic depicts the percentage increase of food-related searches during Ramadan in Indonesia and Malaysia in 2017, by country. It was reported that there was a 220 percent increase in food-related searches in Indonesia during Ramadan while there was a 140 percentage increase in Malaysia.

According to a survey conducted in Malaysia in February and March 2022, 32 percent of Muslim respondents indicated that they will begin preparations for Ramadan at least one or two weeks before. In comparison, 25 percent of the respondents indicated they will begin preparations for Ramadan less than one week before.

According to a survey on donations during Ramadan in Malaysia in 2022, 42 percent of the respondents said they would make Zakat contributions same as last year, while 27 percent said they would donated more amount than last year. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and the month where Muslims worldwide observe fasting from dawn until sunset.

During the month of Ramadan in Malaysia in 2022, a survey showed that 86 percent of the respondents were concerned that they might not be able to gather with family. Meanwhile, 40 percent of the respondents were concerned about finding activities for their family during the Ramadan celebration. Muslims in Malaysia observe the ninth month in the Islamic calendar by fasting from dawn until sunset.

During the month of Ramadan in Malaysia in 2022, a survey showed that 83 percent of the respondents look forward to spending iftar of the breaking of fast with their friends and colleagues. Meanwhile, 82 percent of the repondents said they mostly look forwared to the Eid al-Fitr celebrations at the end of Ramadan. Muslims in Malaysia observe the ninth month in the Islamic calendar by fasting from dawn until sunset.

The statistic depicts the percentage increase of food recipe searches from Youtube during Ramadan in Indonesia and Malaysia in 2017, by country. It was reported that there was a 35 percent increase in food recipe searches in Indonesia during Ramadan while there was a 28 percentage increase in Malaysia.

A survey conducted in May 2022 revealed that 53 percent of male Muslim respondents in Indonesia and Malaysia believed in equal division of childcare. Among the surveyed Muslim women, 72 percent shared this sentiment.