1 in 10 Singaporeans believe they are going to hell after death: survey

SINGAPORE — What happens when we die? According to 10 per cent of Singaporeans surveyed by UK-based YouGov, they believe that they will go to hell.

More than half (56 per cent) of them believe in some form of life after death, while almost a fifth don’t believe so (18 per cent), and the remaining quarter (26 per cent) are not sure.

Close to a third believe in heaven or hell after death, followed by reincarnations (15 per cent) and spirits (6 per cent).

About 32 per cent of Singaporeans fear death, while 37 per cent have no fear and 31 per cent are neutral about it.

Older Singaporeans (aged 55 and above) are less likely to fear death, with about half (51 per cent) of them saying they do not fear it, compared with a quarter (26 per cent) among millennials (aged 18 to 34).

The survey, which polled 1,106 Singaporeans, indicated that the respondents wish to live to 84 years old on average.

When asked how they would feel if they were to die tomorrow, 40 per cent of them said they would die happy. Over a third (36 per cent) said they would die unhappy while almost a quarter (23 per cent) are undecided.

While 27 per cent would like to live forever, the majority, or 57 per cent, would not.

Almost four in ten (38 per cent) of young Singaporeans (aged 18 to 24) want to be immortal. In contrast, only two in 10 (19 per cent) older Singaporeans (aged 55 and above) want to live forever.

Jake Gammon, Head of Omnibus APAC at YouGov Omnibus, said, “One of life’s greatest mysteries is what happens after you die, and for most Singaporeans there is a life after death. What’s interesting is how one’s perceptions on life and death change over time.”

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