Religion by Country
Religion in Canada: Statistics & Demographic Trends
A Christian-plurality country where the non-religious share has doubled in twenty years and minority faiths are growing through immigration.
Quick answer
At the 2021 Census, 53.3% of Canadians identified as Christian and 34.6% reported no religion — up from 16.5% in 2001. Islam (4.9%), Hinduism (2.3%), Sikhism (2.1%) and Buddhism (1.0%) are the largest non-Christian faiths, growing largely through immigration. Catholics are the biggest Christian group.
- Largest religion
- Christianity — 53.3% (Catholic ~30%)
- Second largest
- No religion — 34.6%
- Largest non-Christian faiths
- Islam 4.9% · Hindu 2.3% · Sikh 2.1%
- Data source
- Statistics Canada
- Reference year
- 2021 Census
Religion in Canada at a glance
Canada is a Christian-plurality country secularising at pace: just over half now identify as Christian, and more than a third report no religion. Non-Christian faiths, driven by immigration, are the fastest-growing. Figures are from Statistics Canada's 2021 Census.
| Affiliation | 2001 | 2011 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Christian | 77.1% | 67.3% | 53.3% |
| No religion | 16.5% | 23.9% | 34.6% |
| Muslim | 2.0% | 3.2% | 4.9% |
| Hindu | 1.0% | 1.5% | 2.3% |
The main affiliations
Christianity (53.3%) is led by Catholics (about 30%), the largest group in every province and territory except Nunavut. No religion (34.6%) has more than doubled since 2001. The largest non-Christian faiths are Islam (4.9%), Hinduism (2.3%), Sikhism (2.1%) and Buddhism (1.0%), concentrated in Ontario and British Columbia.
A rapid, immigration-shaped shift
The Christian share fell from 77.1% in 2001 to 53.3% in 2021, while the non-religious rose from 16.5% to 34.6%. Over half of British Columbia and Yukon residents now report no religion. Much of the growth in Islam, Hinduism and Sikhism comes from recent immigration — the majority of adherents of those faiths in Canada are immigrants.
A short history
Canada was overwhelmingly Christian — Catholic in Quebec, Protestant elsewhere — for most of its history. The Quiet Revolution in 1960s Quebec loosened the Catholic Church's grip, and subsequent decades of secularisation and diverse immigration reshaped the national picture into today's plural landscape.
Belief and society
Canada's trend closely parallels its neighbour and other Commonwealth countries. Compare religion in the United States and religion in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main religion in Canada?
Christianity is the largest religion, at 53.3% of the population in the 2021 Census, with Catholics the biggest group.
What percentage of Canadians have no religion?
34.6% of Canadians reported no religion at the 2021 Census, up from 23.9% in 2011 and 16.5% in 2001.
What are the largest non-Christian religions in Canada?
Islam (4.9%) is the largest, followed by Hinduism (2.3%), Sikhism (2.1%) and Buddhism (1.0%), all concentrated in Ontario and British Columbia.
Is religion declining in Canada?
Yes. The Christian share has fallen from 77% in 2001 to 53% in 2021, while the non-religious share has more than doubled over the same period.
Sources & methodology
Figures are from the Statistics Canada Census of Population 2021, which records self-reported religion for the whole population. Trend comparisons use the 2001, 2011 and 2021 censuses.
- Statistics Canada, Census of Population 2021 — religion (StatCan data tables).