Lexi Webster
Islam is the fastest-growing religion worldwide, but it is not the fastest-growing religion in Australia. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Hinduism is the fastest-growing religion in Australia, with a 55.3% increase from 2016 to 2021. Islam is the second-fastest-growing religion in Australia, with a 3.2% increase during the same period. The growth of Islam in Australia can be attributed to general immigration, religious conversion, and Australia's participation in UN refugee efforts.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Population growth rate | 73% between 2010 and 2050 |
| Global Muslim population in 2050 | 2.3 billion |
| Percentage of global population in 2050 | 29.7% |
| Number of Muslims in Australia in 2011 | 476,300 |
| Percentage of Muslims in Australia in 2010 | 2.4% |
| Average number of children in Muslim families | 3.1 |
| Median age of Muslims in 2010 | 23 |
| Number of Muslims in Australia in 2021 | 813,392 |
| Percentage of Muslims in Australia in 2021 | 3.2% |
| Main countries of birth of Muslims immigrating to Australia | Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, Bangladesh |
| Number of Muslims in Tasmania in 2016 | 2,498 |
| Number of Muslims in Tasmania in 2021 | 4,947 |
| Number of Buddhists in Australia in 2021 | 615,800 |
| Percentage of Buddhists in Australia in 2021 | 2.4% |
| Number of Hindus in Australia in 2021 | 684,002 |
| Percentage of Hindus in Australia in 2021 | 2.7% |
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What You'll Learn
- Islamic symbolism is becoming more visible in Australia
- Muslim families tend to have more children than other religious groups
- Muslims are younger than non-Muslims, meaning a larger share of the group will start families
- Immigration from Muslim-majority countries has increased the overall Muslim population in Australia
- Religious conversion to Islam by Christians and other Australians has contributed to its growth
Islamic symbolism is becoming more visible in Australia
Islam is the second-largest religion in Australia, constituting 813,392 people or 3.2% of the total population, according to the 2021 Census. The growth of the Muslim population in Australia can be attributed to high fertility rates and recent migration patterns. Muslims have been immigrating to Australia from countries such as Bosnia, Turkey, Lebanon, Indonesia, Malaysia, Iran, Fiji, Albania, Sudan, Somalia, Egypt, Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
The increasing visibility of Islamic symbolism in Australia is indicative of the growth of Islam in the country. Islamic theologian Mehmet Ozalp highlights that the growth of Islam in Australia is twofold: a quantitative increase in the number of Muslims in Australia and worldwide, and a qualitative development of Islam among Muslims who did not practice previously. This is evident in the growing number of women choosing to cover their hair, a practice that was less common among Australian Muslims a few decades ago.
The presence of Islam in Australia dates back to before British colonisation, with interactions between Indigenous Australians and Muslim Makassan fishers as early as the 18th century. Muslim immigration continued in the late colonial period and after World War II, contributing to the diverse and pluralistic nature of Islam in Australia today.
The growth of Islam in Australia is also reflected in the increasing number of Muslims in certain areas, such as the Sydney suburb of Lakemba and surrounding areas, which have become concentrations of Sunni adherents. However, it is important to note that the growth of Islam in Australia is not uniform across all states and territories. For example, Tasmania experienced the highest growth rate of religious affiliation with Islam from 2016 to 2021, with the proportion of the Muslim population almost doubling during this period.
The increasing visibility of Islamic symbolism in Australia is a reflection of the growing and diversifying Muslim population in the country. As the Muslim community continues to grow and become more visible, it contributes to the rich religious diversity that characterises Australia's modern society.
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Muslim families tend to have more children than other religious groups
While Islam is the fastest-growing religion worldwide, it is not the fastest-growing religion in Australia. The latest census figures show that Hinduism is the fastest-growing religion in Australia, coinciding with the growth in the number of Australians born in India. Nevertheless, Islam is the largest non-Christian religious group in the country. The growth of Islam in Australia can be attributed to two factors: quantitative growth, which refers to the increasing population of Muslims in Australia and worldwide, and qualitative growth, which refers to the increased religious observance among Muslims who did not practice previously.
One factor contributing to the growth of Islam in Australia is migration. Almost 126,000 people who arrived in Australia between 2016 and 2021 affiliated with Islam, with the majority born in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh. Tasmania had the highest growth rate for Islam since 2016, with the proportion of the population affiliating with Islam increasing from 0.5% to 0.9%.
Another factor contributing to the growth of Islam in Australia is fertility rates. Globally, Muslims have higher fertility rates than Christians, with Muslim women having, on average, more children than Christian women. Muslim women's low educational attainment is a likely factor, as higher educational attainment among women is associated with lower fertility rates. Additionally, Muslims are more likely to marry and tend to marry at a younger age, contributing to higher fertility rates. However, it is important to note that religiousness does not always mean higher fertility, as Islam does not prohibit family planning. For example, the dramatic decline in Iran's fertility rate demonstrates how strict Islamic practices can coexist with the widespread use of family planning.
The perception that Muslims have more children than other religious groups may also be influenced by the visibility of Islamic symbolism and practices. In Australia, the growing visibility of Muslim women covering their hair may contribute to the perception that Islam is the fastest-growing religion in the country. However, it is important to consider that the actual number of Muslims in Australia may be larger than census figures suggest, as many people do not state their religion in the census.
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Muslims are younger than non-Muslims, meaning a larger share of the group will start families
While Islam is the fastest-growing religion globally, this does not seem to be the case in Australia. According to the 2011 census, 2.2% of Australians, or 476,300 people, identified as Muslim. This number is likely an undercount, as many people do not state their religion in the census. Nevertheless, the growth rate of Australia's Muslim population has outpaced that of the total population.
One factor contributing to the growth of Islam in Australia is the relatively young age of Muslims in the country. Muslims in Australia tend to be several years younger than non-Muslims, with a median age of 23 in 2010. This means that a larger share of the Muslim population will be starting or considering starting families, leading to a higher fertility rate. The average number of children in Muslim families is 3.1, compared to 2.3 for all other religious groups combined. This demographic factor plays a significant role in the growth of Islam in Australia.
In addition to higher fertility rates, other factors influencing the growth of Islam in Australia include immigration and religious conversion. Australia has welcomed Muslims fleeing conflicts in various countries, including Lebanon, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, and Afghanistan. The country's immigration policies have significantly impacted the growth of the Muslim population. Furthermore, religious conversion to Islam by Christians and other Australians has also contributed to its growth.
While Islam is not the fastest-growing religion in Australia, it is still the largest non-Christian religious group in the country. As of 2021, there were 813,392 Muslims in Australia, comprising 3.2% of the population. This number is expected to continue growing, contributing to the global expansion of Islam. By 2050, Muslims are projected to surpass Christians as the world's largest religious group, with their global population reaching 2.3 billion.
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Immigration from Muslim-majority countries has increased the overall Muslim population in Australia
Australia's religious profile has been shaped by waves of migration. In the 1800s and early 1900s, British and Irish settlers brought Christianity to the country. In the 1920s and 1930s, Albanian Muslims immigrated to Australia, reviving the Australian Muslim community. From 1975 onwards, there was a large-scale migration of Lebanese Muslims, which rapidly increased during the Lebanese Civil War. Lebanese Muslims are still the largest and highest-profile Muslim group in Australia. Kurdish Muslims have predominantly arrived since the second half of the 1980s, with most settling in Melbourne and Sydney.
In the 2010s, there was an increase in skilled migration from Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country. Pakistan and Malaysia were the two countries with predominantly Muslim populations in the top ten citizenship countries of migrants. However, proportionally, the number of Muslims migrating to Australia is quite small. In 2011, Muslims made up 2.2% of the Australian population, and in 2021, 3.2%. The increase in Islamic affiliation in Australia can be attributed to recent migration, with almost 126,000 people who arrived in Australia between 2016 and 2021 affiliating with Islam. Their main countries of birth were Pakistan, Afghanistan, India, and Bangladesh.
While the world's Muslim population is expected to grow at a rate of 73% between 2010 and 2050, outpacing the growth of the Christian population, it is unclear whether Islam is the fastest-growing religion in Australia. The growth of Islam in Australia can be attributed to both immigration and high fertility rates among Muslims in the country.
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Religious conversion to Islam by Christians and other Australians has contributed to its growth
The growth of Islam in Australia is influenced by various factors, including immigration and religious conversion. Australia has welcomed Muslims fleeing conflicts in Lebanon, Bosnia, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, and Afghanistan, contributing to the growth of the Muslim population. Additionally, humanitarian entrants from the Middle East and skilled migrants from Northeast and Southern Asia have also influenced the religious landscape.
Religious conversion plays a role in the growth of Islam in Australia, although it is not the primary driver. People are attracted to Islam for its sense of stability and certainty, and its comprehensive guidance on dealing with issues. The appeal of Islam's teachings contributes to individuals' decisions to convert and embrace the faith.
While the number of conversions is significant, it is modest compared to the overall population gain of Muslims, which is largely attributed to high fertility rates and larger family sizes. Muslim families tend to have more children, with an average of 3.1 children compared to 2.3 for other religious groups. Additionally, Muslims tend to be younger, with a median age of 23 in 2010, resulting in a larger share of the group starting families.
It is worth noting that the visibility of Islamic symbolism has increased in Australia. According to Mehmet Ozalp, an Islamic Theologian at Charles Sturt University, the growth of Islam in Australia is both quantitative and qualitative. While there has been an increase in the number of Muslims, there is also a growth in the practice of Islam among Muslims who previously did not actively follow the religion. This increased visibility contributes to the perception that Islam is more widespread than it actually is.
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Frequently asked questions
Islam is the fastest-growing religion worldwide, with the majority of Muslims concentrated in the Asia-Pacific region. The religion is experiencing two kinds of growth in Australia: a quantitative increase in the number of Muslims in Australia and worldwide, and a qualitative increase in the practice of Islam among Muslims who did not previously. This growth is attributed to high fertility rates, larger family sizes, younger populations, and recent migration from Southern and Central Asia.
In the 2011 census, 2.2% of Australians, or 476,300 people, identified as Muslim. The actual number is likely higher as many people do not state their religion on the census. In the 2021 census, 3.2% of Australians, or 813,392 people, identified as Muslim.
While Islam is the fastest-growing religion worldwide, this is not the case in Australia. Hinduism and Sikhism are the fastest-growing religions in Australia, with growth rates of 12% and 14.8% per year, respectively.
The growth of Islam in Australia is slower than the growth of Islam worldwide. This is because the growth of Islam in Australia is largely dependent on migration from Muslim-majority countries, while the growth of Islam worldwide is also influenced by high fertility rates and larger family sizes.
