Religion by Country
Religion in Australia: Statistics & Demographic Trends
A rapidly secularising society where Christianity has fallen below half the population and “no religion” is the fastest-growing choice.
Quick answer
At the 2021 Census, 43.9% of Australians identified as Christian and 38.9% reported no religion — up sharply from 30.1% in 2016. Islam (3.2%), Hinduism (2.7%) and Buddhism (2.4%) are the largest non-Christian faiths and are growing through migration. Christianity remains the most common religion but fell below half the population for the first time.
- Most common religion
- Christianity — 43.9% (Catholic 20%, Anglican 9.8%)
- Largest single category
- No religion — 38.9%
- Largest non-Christian faiths
- Islam 3.2% · Hinduism 2.7% · Buddhism 2.4%
- Data source
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
- Reference year
- 2021 Census
Religion in Australia at a glance
Australia is secularising fast. At the 2021 Census, Christianity remained the most common religion but fell below half the population for the first time, while “no religion” became the largest single category on the rise. Figures are from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), where the religion question is voluntary.
| Affiliation | 2016 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Christianity | 52.1% | 43.9% |
| No religion | 30.1% | 38.9% |
| Islam | 2.6% | 3.2% |
| Hinduism | 1.9% | 2.7% |
| Buddhism | 2.4% | 2.4% |
The main affiliations
Christianity (43.9%) is led by Catholics (20.0%) and Anglicans (9.8%), with a range of other denominations. No religion (38.9%) — which includes atheism and secular and spiritual-but-not-religious outlooks — has more than doubled its share since 2011. The largest non-Christian faiths are Islam (3.2%), Hinduism (2.7%) and Buddhism (2.4%), all growing through migration.
A rapid shift
The share reporting no religion rose from 30.1% in 2016 to 38.9% in 2021, while Christianity fell from 52% to 44%. The change is generational — younger Australians are far more likely to tick “no religion” — and is only partly offset by migration-driven growth in Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism, the fastest-growing faiths.
A short history
Christianity was the stated religion of around 90% of Australians until the 1960s. Postwar migration diversified the population, and from 1971, when “no religion” first appeared as a census option, the non-religious share began a steady climb that has accelerated in recent decades.
Belief and society
Australia's trajectory closely tracks other English-speaking countries. Compare religion in Canada and religion in the United States.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main religion in Australia?
Christianity is the most common religion in Australia, followed by 43.9% of the population at the 2021 Census, led by Catholic and Anglican denominations.
What percentage of Australians have no religion?
38.9% of Australians reported no religion at the 2021 Census, up from 30.1% in 2016 and about 22% in 2011.
Is Australia still a Christian country?
Christianity remains the largest religion, but at the 2021 Census it fell below half the population for the first time, and the non-religious are now the fastest-growing group.
What are the fastest-growing religions in Australia?
Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism are the fastest-growing religions, driven largely by migration, though each remains a small minority.
Sources & methodology
Figures are from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing. The religion question has been included since 1911 and is voluntary; in 2021 about 93% of people answered it. ‘No religion’ includes secular beliefs such as atheism and other spiritual beliefs.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Religious affiliation in Australia, 2021 Census.
- Australian Bureau of Statistics, Cultural diversity: Census 2021.