Damon Mcknight
Islam is the second-largest religion in Australia, with Muslims constituting 3.2% of the country's population as per the 2021 census. Western Australia, in particular, is home to a significant Muslim population, with notable communities in Perth and other urban areas. While the exact number of Muslims in Western Australia is unclear, the state's religious demographics provide insight into the diversity of its population.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Total Muslim population in Australia | 813,392 (3.2% of the total population) |
| Percentage of people with no religion in Western Australia | 42.8% |
| Largest religious group in Western Australia | Western (Roman) Catholic (18.6% of all people) |
| Percentage of people who nominated a religion in Western Australia | 49.1% |
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What You'll Learn
Muslim population in Western Australia
Western Australia is home to a diverse range of religious groups, with Islam being one of the many religions practised in the region. While the exact number of Muslims in Western Australia is not readily available, we can look at some statistics and estimates to understand the Muslim population in the region.
According to the 2021 Census, 49.1% of the population of Western Australia nominated a religion, with 42.8% stating they had no religion. The largest single religion in Western Australia was Western (Roman) Catholic, with 18.6% of the population adhering to this denomination. This was followed by other Christian denominations, such as Uniting Church (1.6%) and Greek Orthodox (0.5%). While Islam was not mentioned specifically, it is worth noting that it is the second-largest religion in Australia as a whole, with 3.2% of the total Australian population identifying as Muslim in the 2021 Census. This percentage translates to 813,392 people, indicating a significant Muslim population across the country.
Western Australia has a diverse cultural and ethnic makeup, which is reflected in its religious statistics. The country of birth and ethnic background of the population play a role in the religious compositions of different areas. For example, there are Muslim communities in Western Australia that originate from Albania, with the largest Albanian communities in Australia being predominantly Muslim and located in Shepparton and Melbourne's suburb of Dandenong in Victoria. Additionally, there are Egyptian Muslims in Sydney, represented by The Islamic Egyptian Society, and Bangladeshi Muslims located primarily in Western Sydney regions.
It is important to consider that the Muslim population in Western Australia may include both migrants and second- or third-generation Australians. The Australian media has been criticised for its portrayal of Muslim Australians, with a report from 2004 highlighting that generalisations about terrorism and crime have contributed to the vilification of the community. Despite these challenges, Australia is becoming more religiously diverse, and Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the country, attributed to relatively high birth rates and recent immigration patterns.
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Albanian Muslims in Western Australia
In the 1920s, Albanian Muslims began to immigrate to Australia, settling in places like Northam, York, and Fremantle in Western Australia, as well as in other states. These early Albanian migrants worked in agriculture, particularly in the grain-growing and fruit-growing industries. Later, some Albanians relocated to rural areas of Western Australia, where they worked as wheat and sheep farmers in Northam and York.
In the post-World War II period, Australia's immigration policy broadened, allowing more Muslim immigrants from Europe, including Albania, to enter the country. These Albanian Muslims settled in Perth, Fremantle, and other parts of Western Australia, contributing to the revival of the Australian Muslim community. They established the Muslim Society of Australia in Perth in the late 1940s and built the first mosque in Mareeba, Far North Queensland, in 1970.
In the 21st century, the largest Albanian communities in Australia are in Shepparton and Melbourne's suburb of Dandenong in Victoria, with significant Muslim populations. In Western Australia, there is a notable Albanian Muslim presence in Perth and Fremantle, as well as in rural areas. The Albanian Australian Islamic Society (AAIS), formed in 1963, works to preserve the Albanian Muslim identity and promote harmony and mutual understanding with other communities in Australia.
Albanian Muslims have played a significant role in shaping the religious landscape of Western Australia and other states. They were among the earliest Muslim groups to establish themselves in post-colonial Australia, and their migration traditions and agricultural skills contributed to their settlement patterns. The construction of mosques, such as the one in Mareeba, has symbolised the permanent settlement and unity of the Albanian community in Australia.
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Bangladeshi Muslims in Western Australia
Muslims from more than sixty countries have settled in Australia, including Bangladesh. According to the 2016 Australian Census, there were around 55,000 people of Bangladeshi origin in Australia, with about 33,000 living in NSW. Of the Bangladesh-born population in Australia, 81.2% were Muslim by faith.
The majority of Bangladeshis have settled in the urban areas of New South Wales, with large concentrations in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne. Within Sydney, Bangladeshi Muslims are primarily located in Rockdale, Lakemba, Bankstown, and many suburbs in Western Sydney, with a mosque in Sefton. In Melbourne, there is a mosque at Huntingdale in the southeast of the city, which is attended by Bangladeshi Muslims.
Bangladeshis are relatively new migrants to Australia, with migration steadily increasing after the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. They are mostly trained professionals, with 68.4% of Bangladeshi-Australians aged 15 or above attaining a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of 26.3%. The median household income for Bangladeshi-Australians is $1,940, higher than the national median of $1,746.
In Western Australia, the largest religious group in 2021 was Western (Roman) Catholic, with 18.6% of the population adhering to this religion. By contrast, 42.8% of people in Western Australia had no religion, and 7.5% did not answer the question on religion. While there is no data on the number of Bangladeshi Muslims in Western Australia specifically, it is worth noting that Perth, the capital of Western Australia, has a Muslim community focused in and around the suburb of Thornlie, where there is a mosque.
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Egyptian Muslims in Western Australia
According to the 2021 Australian Census, there are 813,392 Muslims in Australia, constituting 3.2% of the total population. Western Australia is home to 7% of the country's Muslim population, with 8% of this demographic residing in Greater Perth.
While I could not find precise data on the number of Egyptian Muslims in Western Australia, it is known that in 2001, 33,432 Australian residents were born in Egypt, making it the third most common country of origin for Arab Australians. Furthermore, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Egypt is among the countries with a significant number of Australian residents born in the Middle East or North Africa.
The Islamic Egyptian Society represents Egyptian Muslims in Sydney, and they have managed the Arkana College in Kingsgrove since 1986. While there is no specific information about Egyptian Muslims in Western Australia, it is worth noting that there are established Muslim communities in the state, including Albanian Muslims in Katanning.
Islam is the second-largest religion in Australia, and its followers represent a diverse range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The growth of the Muslim community in Australia can be attributed to high birth rates and recent immigration patterns.
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Islamic mosques in Western Australia
Islam is the second-largest religion in Australia, with 813,392 people or 3.2% of the total population identifying as Muslim in the 2021 Census. Western Australia is home to a diverse range of religious groups, with 49.1% of the population nominating a religion and 42.8% stating they had no religion in 2021. The largest single religion in Western Australia is Western (Roman) Catholic, with 18.6% of the population adhering to this faith. While the number of Muslims in Western Australia is not specified, Muslim communities exist in the state, and there are several Islamic mosques serving these communities.
According to historical records from 1910, there were seven permanent mosques in Western Australia at the time, with the principal mosque located in Perth. The other six mosques were situated in Coolgardie, Mount Malcolm, Leonora, Bummers Creek, Mount Sir Samuel, and Mount Magnet. It is not clear if these mosques are still operational today, but they represent the early presence of Islamic places of worship in the state.
Today, there is a notable Muslim community in Katanning, Western Australia, comprising Malays. This community is mentioned alongside other large Muslim communities in Victoria, such as Shepparton and Melbourne's suburb of Dandenong. These Albanian-speaking communities have influenced the construction of mosques and the practice of Islam in Australia.
While the exact number of mosques in Western Australia today is unclear, the presence of Muslim communities and their places of worship indicates a continuing Islamic presence in the state. The construction of mosques has faced opposition in some cases, with reports noting resistance from local communities when mosques were initially proposed. Despite these challenges, mosques remain important centres for community activities and the retention of religious identity for Muslims in Western Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Muslims make up 3.2% of the total Australian population as of the 2021 Census. However, I could not find data on the percentage specifically in Western Australia.
The largest religious group in Western Australia is Western (Roman) Catholic, with 18.6% of the population or 495,423 people as adherents.
42.8% of people in Western Australia have no religion.
