Damon Mcknight
Australia is often described as a secular country, with a steady decline in the proportion of Australians who report an affiliation with Christianity. In 2021, 44% of Australians identified as Christian, down from 52.1% in 2016. The number of Australians who selected no religion in the latest census rose to 38.9%, up from 30.1% in 2016. This makes those with no religion the second-largest religious group in Australia. Atheist interests in Australia are represented nationally by the Atheist Foundation of Australia, while humanist interests are represented by the Council of Australian Humanist Societies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Australians identifying as Christians | 43.9% |
| Percentage of Australians with no religion | 38.9% |
| Percentage of Australians identifying as Catholics | 20% |
| Percentage of Australians identifying as Anglicans | 9.8% |
| Percentage of Australians identifying as Hindus | 2.7% |
| Percentage of Australians identifying as Muslims | 3.2% |
| Percentage of Australians attending church on a weekly basis | Less than 10% |
Explore related products
$18.79 $20.99
What You'll Learn
Australia is a secular country
Australia is often described as a secular country. This is reflected in the country's ongoing movement from religion to "no religion". In the latest census, 38.9% of Australians identified as having "no religion", up from 30.1% in 2016. This makes those with no religion the second-largest "religious group" after Christians, who make up 43.9% of the population, down from 52.1% in 2016.
Over the past 50 years, there has been a steady decline in the proportion of Australians who reported an affiliation with Christianity. In 1911, 38.4% of the population reported an affiliation with the Anglican Church (then known as the Church of England), which remained steady until the second half of the 20th century due to continued British migration to Australia. In 1954, 37.9% of Australians were affiliated with the Church of England. In 2006, Anglican affiliation (18.7%) was surpassed by those reporting to have no religion (19.4%). From 2016 to 2021, Anglican affiliation dropped from 3.1 million to 2.5 million people, the largest drop of all religious denominations.
The rise in those identifying as having "no religion" is particularly pronounced among millennials, 47% of whom ticked "no religion" in the census, compared to 31% of baby boomers. If this trend continues, "no religion" will officially overtake Christianity as the majority "faith" in the 2026 census.
However, it is important to note that Australia's religious diversity is increasing. While the number of Catholics has decreased, Hinduism and Islam are both growing, although they remain minority faiths at 2.7% and 3.2% of the population, respectively. The number of people affiliating with Islam in Tasmania, for example, increased from 0.5% to 0.9% between 2016 and 2021. Additionally, the proportion of the population affiliating with Hinduism in Tasmania increased from 0.5% to 1.7% during the same period.
Australia's shift towards secularism is also reflected in the country's laws. For example, the movement towards marriage equality can be seen as a result of the increasing number of Australians who identify as having "no religion".
While Australia is becoming increasingly secular, it is important to remember that a large portion of the population still identifies with a religion. Religious freedom is an important value in Australian society, and people are free to choose, express, and practice their religious beliefs in different ways. This includes the right not to profess a religion or belief.
Exploring the Coral Sea off Cairns, Australia
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Christianity is the largest faith
While the number of atheists in Australia is not known, the percentage of the population identifying as having "no religion" is on the rise. In the 2021 census, 38.9% of Australians identified as having no religion, up from 30.1% in 2016 and 22.3% in 2011. This makes those with no religion the second-largest "religious group" in Australia.
Despite this, Christianity remains the largest faith in Australia, with 43.9% of the population identifying as Christian in the latest census. This is down from 52.1% in 2016 and 96% a century ago. The decline in Christian affiliation has been accompanied by a rise in other religions, including Hinduism and Islam, which, while still minority faiths, are growing.
Historically, the Anglican Church (formerly the Church of England) was the main religious denomination in Australia throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. At the 1911 Census, 38.4% of the population reported an affiliation with the Church of England, and in 1954 this figure was 37.9%. However, in recent decades, there has been a steady decline in the number of Anglicans, with the denomination experiencing the largest drop in numbers of all religious denominations from 2016 to 2021.
Catholics, who comprise 20% of the population, have also seen a decline in numbers and now make up a smaller proportion of the population than Anglicans. Despite this, New South Wales is the nation's most Catholic state, with 22.4% of the state's population identifying as Catholic and only 32.8% reporting no religion.
While Christianity is still the largest faith in Australia, the country is often described as a secular country, with religious freedom being an important value. People are free to choose, express, and practice their religious beliefs or lack thereof without shame. This includes the right not to profess any religion or belief, and Australia's religious diversity is increasing.
Finding Praying Mantis in Australia: A Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Atheist interests are represented by the Atheist Foundation of Australia
Atheism in Australia has been on the rise in the past few decades. The 2011 census results showed that the percentage of people declaring no religion had risen from 18.7% in 2006 to 22.3%, becoming the second-largest response. The Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) is a South Australian organisation established in 1970 by the Rationalist Association of South Australia, which decided on a name change to better reflect its basic philosophy of atheism. The AFA defines atheism as "the acceptance that there is no credible scientific or factually reliable evidence for the existence of a god, gods, or the supernatural." It rejects belief in a deity, the supernatural, and superstition in general, considering religion unnecessary and often harmful. The foundation believes that humans are rational and ethical beings capable of moral responsibility and creative contributions to society. It encourages and provides a means of expression for informed free thought on philosophical and social issues. The AFA has members in every state and territory and has organised Global Atheist Conventions in 2010 and 2012.
The AFA has actively campaigned for Australians to mark "No Religion" on their census forms. In 2011, then-President David Nicholls stated that many people "simply marked down the religion they were born into, despite not now being religious people at all". As census results are used to gauge public funding to religious groups, this was giving religion more taxpayer money than it was entitled to. The AFA hired billboards around the country to promote the campaign. The 2016 census results showed that the percentage of people declaring no religion had risen to 30.1%, becoming the top response.
The AFA has also been vocal about the need to separate church and state in Australia. It has submitted letters to the Productivity Commission's Draft Report on Philanthropy, expressing concern over religious discrimination by the NSW Government. The foundation has called for an end to exclusively Christian prayer rituals beginning parliamentary sessions, arguing that it is the role of parents, not the government, to indoctrinate children into a particular religion.
The AFA recognises the scientific method as the only rational means of understanding reality. It encourages the questioning and critical examination of all ideas, testing them through experimentation to discover facts. The foundation's view is that there is no scientific evidence for supernatural phenomena, and the evolution of life is a natural occurrence.
Beaumont Children: Missing in Australia, Never Found
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Tasmania and South Australia are the most irreligious states
Australia has become a highly secular country since the post-war era, with religion playing a minor or non-existent role in the lives of much of the population. In the 2021 census, 38.9% of Australians (approximately 9,886,957 people) selected either "no religion" or specified their form of irreligion, almost nine percent higher than in the 2016 census. In the 2016 census, 29.6% of Australians (approximately 6,933,708 people) selected "no religion", which was more than seven percent higher than in the 2011 census.
Tasmania's religious disconnect is not surprising to many, including the Anglican Church's Reverend Richard Humphrey. The Reverend, who is well known for his collection of prog rock music, said that current controversies surrounding organised religion are likely a factor. Young Tasmanians also report that they have been less exposed to religion growing up, with science taking a more prominent role in their lives. Tasmania is also less multicultural than the rest of the country, with fewer migrants who may bring religious affiliations from other cultures.
South Australia is also a highly irreligious state, with the Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) being established there in 1970. The AFA defines atheism as "the acceptance that there is no credible scientific or factually reliable evidence for the existence of a god, gods, or the supernatural." It rejects belief in a deity, the supernatural, and superstition in general, and it organised the 2010 and 2012 Global Atheist Conventions. The AFA has also run campaigns encouraging people to mark "No religion" on the 2011 and 2016 Australian Censuses, with the 2016 census results showing that 30.1% of Australians declared no religion, becoming the top response.
Is Canberra an Island or Part of Australia?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Religious affiliation is declining
Religious affiliation in Australia has been declining over the past 50 years. While Christianity remains the largest faith, with 43.9% of Australians identifying as Christian, this number has decreased from 52.1% in 2016. The Anglican Church, which was the main religious denomination in Australia throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, has seen a steady decline in affiliation, dropping below Catholic affiliation in 1986. In 2006, Anglican affiliation was surpassed by those reporting no religious affiliation (19.4%). The number of Australians who identify as having no religion has continued to rise, reaching 38.9% in the most recent census. This makes those with no religion the second-largest "religious group" in Australia.
The decline in religious affiliation is particularly notable among younger generations, with 47% of millennials ticking "no religion" in the census compared to 31% of baby boomers. If this trend continues, no religion will officially become the majority "faith" in Australia by the 2026 census. The increase in religious unaffiliation is accompanied by a rise in religious diversity, with growing numbers of people identifying with minority faiths such as Hinduism and Islam. Australia's pursuit of multiculturalism since the 1970s has contributed to the growth of these religions, with an influx of migrants and refugees from a variety of countries and religious backgrounds.
The shift away from religious affiliation has had a profound impact on Australian society and laws. For example, the movement towards secularism has influenced the legalisation of marriage equality. While Australia is often described as a secular country, it is important to note that a large portion of the population still identifies with a religion. The decline in religious affiliation does not mean the disappearance of religion, but rather a change in the landscape of religious belief and practice in Australia.
The increasing religious diversity in Australia highlights the importance of freedom of religion and respectful debate about the place of religion in a secular society. The right to religious freedom is protected in Australia, allowing individuals to choose, express, and practice their beliefs or lack thereof without shame or restriction. This includes the right not to profess any religion or belief, as a significant portion of the Australian population has chosen to do.
Growing Winter Tomatoes in Australia: A Guide
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
According to the latest census, 38.9% of Australians identify as having "no religion", making them the second-largest "religious group" after Christians, who make up 43.9% of the population.
Yes, the percentage of Australians identifying as having "no religion" has been steadily increasing over the past few decades. In the 2016 census, 30.1% of Australians identified as having no religion, up from 22.3% in 2011.
The percentage of atheists in Australia is higher than the percentage of people who follow minority religions such as Hinduism (2.7%) and Islam (3.2%). However, it is lower than the percentage of Christians, who make up the largest religious group in the country.
Yes, there are some regional variations in the percentage of atheists in Australia. For example, Tasmanians and South Australians tend to be more irreligious, with 49.6% and 45.3% of people in those states, respectively, identifying as having no religion.
