Religion in Australia as declared in the 2021 census[1][2]
Atheism, agnosticism, scepticism, freethought, secular humanism or general irreligion are increasing in Australia.[4] Post-war Australia has become a highly secularised country.[5] Religion does not play a major role in the lives of much of the population.[6]
In the country's 2021 census, 38.9% of Australians (or 9,886,957 people) selected either "no religion" or specified their form of irreligion, almost nine percent higher (and 2,846,240 more people) than the 2016 census. 7.2% did not state their religion, or gave an unclear response, meaning that over 46% of Australians did not state a religious affiliation in the 2021 census, a 6.4% increase from the last census.[7]
When asked of their religious affiliation in the 2016 census, 29.6% of Australians (or 6,933,708 people) selected "no religion." This was more than seven percent higher (and 2,240,546 more people), than in the 2011 census. Additionally, in 2016, another 0.5% instead opted to specify their form of irreligion, writing it under "other," hence resulting in 30.1% of Australians (or just over 7,040,700 people) selecting "no religion."[1] A further 9.6% either did not state a religion, or gave a response that was unclear, meaning that 39.7% of Australians did not expressly state a religious affiliation in the 2016 census.[8]
In the 2011 census, 22.3% of Australians (or 4,796,787 people) described themselves as having "no religion." This was more than three percent higher (and 1,090,232 people more) than in the 2006 census and was the second largest category.[8] Another 2.014 million (9.4%) were in the "not-stated or inadequately-defined" category: so more than 31% of Australians did not state a religious affiliation in the 2011 census.[9]
In the 2006 census, 18.7% of Australians (or 3,706,555 people) had described themselves as having "no religion." This was three percent higher than in the 2001 census and was the largest growth in total number of any religious option in that census (800,557 people).[4] A further 2.4 million (11.9%) did not state a religion (or inadequately described it).[10] So just over 30% of Australians did not state a religious affiliation in the 2006 census.
In a 2004 worldwide study by Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart, 25% of Australians stated they do not believe in any gods.[11]
- ^ a b "Census of Population and Housing: Reflecting Australia - Stories from the Census, 2016 : Religion in Australia". Australian Bureau of Statistics. Archived from the original on 10 July 2017. Retrieved 27 June 2017.
- ^ "Cultural diversity in Australia". 2071.0 – Reflecting a Nation: Stories from the 2011 Census, 2012–2013. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 21 June 2012. Archived from the original on 25 April 2016. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
- ^ "Cultural diversity". 1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2008. Australian Bureau of Statistics. 7 February 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
- ^ a b Schliebs, Mark (26 July 2007). "Census figures show more Australians have no religion". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 4 February 2008.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
hornewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
religionwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Cultural diversity: Census, 2021 | Australian Bureau of Statistics". www.abs.gov.au. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
- ^ a b Australian Bureau of Statistics (27 June 2017). "2016 Community Profiles: Australia". 2016 Census of Population and Housing. Retrieved 27 June 2016.
- ^ Religion in Australia#Demographics
- ^ "3416.0 – Perspectives on Migrants, 2007: Birthplace and Religion". Australian Bureau of Statistics. 25 February 2008. Archived from the original on 2 March 2008. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
- ^ Norris, Pippa and Ronald Inglehart. 2004. Sacred and Secular: Religion and Politics Worldwide. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press
