The Philippines is one of two predominantly Roman Catholic nations in Asia, the other being East Timor. About 93% of the population is Christian, about 5% are Muslim and about 2% are other or none.
Islam is the oldest recorded monotheistic religion in the Philippines (however, not the oldest religion overall). Islam reached the Philippines between the 12th and 14th century with the arrival of Muslim traders from Persian Gulf and the Malabar Coast in Southern India, and their followers from several sultanate governments in the Malay Archipelago. According to the Department of U.S. Department of State International Religious Freedom Report for 2010, the Muslim population of the Philippines is between 5% to 9%.
Hinduism has been a major cultural, economic, political and religious influence in the archipelago that now comprise the Philippines. At present, however, it is limited to a small recent immigrant Indian community, though traditional religious beliefs in most parts of the country have strong Hindu and Buddhist influences. Hinduism arrived from the Javanese empire of Majapahit.
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