CHINESE religions here, specifically Taoism, have been trying to stem the bleed of believers from their ranks, but their followers are still abandoning them for Christianity.

Seven in 10 here considered themselves Taoist nearly 90 years ago, but recent census figures have charted their declining 'share' - from 30 per cent of the population in 1980 to 22.4 per cent in 1990 and 8.5 per cent in 2000.

Christianity, on the other hand, has grown its flock to 14.6 per cent of the people here in 2000, up from just 5.2 per cent in the 1920s to 10.1 per cent in 1980 and 12.7 per cent in 1990.

With most of the other religions holding steady, this is where the migration seems to have been.

With the next census not due till 2010, The Straits Times commissioned a study aimed at uncovering trends in religious conversion and why people switch away from their childhood faiths.

Read the full report in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.