Religion
All research and editorial content is developed and curated by ÐßÐßÊÓƵ. Read about our process.
Australia is a country, with a high degree of religious freedom and religious diversity. Although the state and religious groups are maintained as separate entities, religious institutions continue to play a large role in Australian society. For example, many primary and secondary schools, hospitals, aged-care facilities and charity organisations are owned and funded by religious organisations.
Christianity is currently the most dominant religion in Australia, introduced by British settlers at . There has always been a degree of religious diversity in Australia. However, it was not until the abolition of the (in the 1970s) that non-European communities were able to significantly establish themselves and grow in numbers. Since then, the country has also seen a growing diversity of non-Christian religions.
On a general cultural level, Australians tend to avoid overt displays of religiosity. There is no common public religious rhetoric (such as ‘God bless America’ or ‘God save the Queen’) that correlates Australian national identity with Christianity. Indeed, it is more common for people to avoid explicitly stating their religious beliefs in the workplace to maintain a distinction between their private and public lives. Conversations about religion are usually welcome in private settings and among familiar people. However, public promotion or defensiveness of one’s religious views (including ) is typically unappreciated.
Demographics
The 2021 census recorded more than 100 religious affiliations in Australia. Approximately 52.1% identified as Christian, constituting the largest religious category. The Catholic Church (20%) and the Anglican Church (9.8%) were the two largest Christian denominations identified. Among those who identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam (3.2%) and Hinduism (2.7%) were the largest, followed by Buddhism (including Theravada and Mahayana traditions) (2.4%), Sikhism (0.8%), and Judaism (0.4%).
The fastest-growing religious affiliation in Australia is ‘no religion’, with 38.9% of the population nominating this category in the 2021 census. This comprises multiple subcategories, including atheism, agnosticism, and other spiritual beliefs (e.g., New Age). The following summaries provide an overview of the historical development and the contemporary major religious communities, arranged in chronological order of their introduction to Australia.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Worldviews
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders have held a range of spiritual beliefs and practices for thousands of years. There is not one single Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander religion or spirituality. Traditional beliefs and practices vary significantly across different regions and groups. However, they generally share a holistic worldview that emphasises the reciprocal relationships and interconnectedness among people, landforms, animals, and other elements of natural landscapes. The natural world is understood to be energised by spirits that are equal to one another, thus reflecting a deep respect for the land. This holistic understanding underpins all areas of life in a way that many Aboriginal and Torres Strait people believe confirms their Indigenous identity.
Another major element of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander worldviews is the stories of the universe’s origins, which occurred during the ‘Dreamtime’. Such narratives recall various human and animal ancestors whose actions and interactions shaped the physical and social world. Dreamtime heroes are associated with spaces and places. Therefore, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups often share an intimate connection with Dreamtime heroes local to their ancestral lands.
The deep connection to the land and Dreamtime events means that families and clans inherit totems (a form of spiritual emblem). Such totems may be a natural object, plant or animal. They define the roles and responsibilities of people and their relationships with one another and with the land. A person is allocated various totems at birth relating to place and . From here, one learns particular songs, dances, and ceremonies associated with the totems and participates in sustaining and caring for the lands.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander traditional beliefs and practices have been profoundly impacted by colonialism and the introduction of Christianity (both past and present). In the 2021 census, only 0.03% Australians identified as practising an ‘Australian Aboriginal traditional religion’, with approximately 1.4% of people who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander also identifying their religion as ‘Australian Aboriginal traditional religion’. However, this figure is unlikely to reflect the exact number of people who share Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander worldviews for various reasons.
Christianity in Australia
Historical Development
Christianity was introduced to Australia by the first British settlers in the late 18th century. The Church of England (also known as the Anglican Church) began operating immediately and held a religious monopoly over the country. Eventually, other Christian denominations emerged, particularly the Catholic Church. British and Irish immigrants and religious clergy played a major role in establishing churches, schools, and orphanages across the country in the early twentieth century.
Historically, Christian denominations in Australia were correlated with ethnicity. In particular, the Catholic Church was often associated with the Irish population, whereas Protestant denominations (primarily the Anglican and Presbyterian Church) were associated with the British. During this period, religious and ethnic identity played a major role in shaping educational opportunities and life outcomes.
Christian Communities in Australia
The Christian population remains the largest in Australia, yet it has steadily declined over the past century (from 96.9% in 1921 to 43.9% in 2021). Today, most Australian Christians are affiliated with either the Catholic Church (20.0%) or the Anglican Church (9.8%). Other denominations include the Uniting Church (2.6%), Eastern Orthodox (2.1%), Presbyterian and Reformed (1.6%), Baptist (1.4%), Pentecostal (1.0%) and Lutheran (0.6%). One can find many elements of Christianity in Australian society, from the diverse churches dotted throughout the country to the many Christian-funded or established social services, such as hospitals, aged-care facilities, schools and charities.
The social and class association with Christian denominations is no longer prevalent. However, many ethnic and national churches continue to serve as cultural hubs for Australia’s diverse communities. For example, one can find Eastern Orthodox churches that function as cultural meeting places for Greek, Russian, and Serbian communities, or Orthodox churches that serve the Egyptian Coptic, Armenian, and Ethiopian communities. There are also Wesleyan Methodist churches associated with Pacific Island nations, such as Samoa and Tonga.
Judaism in Australia
Historical Development
The Jewish community was the first non-Christian ethno-religious group to arrive in Australia during the period. Most of the first Jewish migrants were English speakers from Britain and Ireland rather than Yiddish-speaking Jews from Eastern Europe. The diversity of Australia’s Jewish population increased during the early twentieth century as Jews from various European countries (including Germany and Poland), and parts of the Middle East (primarily Egypt and former Palestine) began migrating to Australia. Meanwhile, the WWII period and the following decades saw a tripling of the Jewish community in Australia from 23,000 in 1933 to 61,000 in 1961.
Jewish Communities in Australia
Although Australian Jewry is relatively young in the context of Jewish history, it is home to a vibrant and diverse community. Approximately 91,000 people identified as religiously Jewish in the 2021 census (0.4% of the population). However, this figure may understate the total Jewish population due to ambiguities surrounding ‘Jewish’ as a religious or ethnic identity marker. Some may also fear declaring their Jewish identity due to collective memories of the Holocaust (known as Shoah).1 It is not uncommon for Jewish families in Australia to have extended family members living in other parts of the world due to the long-lasting effects of WWII and the Holocaust.
According to the 2021 census, nearly all of Australia’s Jewish community resides in Victoria (​​46.4%) and New South Wales (41.0%). However, one can find synagogues from different streams of Judaism throughout Australia’s major cities, smaller cities and some country areas. Jewish settlements and communities tend to be concentrated, with synagogues often acting as community hubs that help to connect local and visiting Jews. It is also common for Jewish schools, kosher food stores, aged-care facilities, and other commercial and community-oriented services to be located nearby, thereby fostering a greater sense of community and support.
Islam in Australia
Historical Development
Evidence shows that various Muslim groups arrived in Australia in small numbers over numerous centuries before the 1800s. However, the first large numbers of Muslims to settle in Australia arrived in the 1860s as cameleers from South Asia. This early Muslim community consisted of men from numerous cultural and linguistic backgrounds within Afghanistan and former British India (contemporary Pakistan and regions of India) - collectively referred to as ‘Afghans’ or ‘Ghans’. Despite long journeys and the harsh conditions of the Australian outback, the Muslim cameleers were able to maintain their religious practices. However, the population declined by the 1930s due to the first generation passing on or returning to their homelands, and the introduction of the .
Muslims of various ethnicities and nationalities migrated later, during the early to mid-20th century. For instance, the 1920s and 1930s saw small numbers of Malay and Indonesian Muslims come as indentured labourers for the pearling industry. During the post-WWII, Muslims from Europe (namely Albanians and former Yugoslavia) entered. The late 1960s and 1970s was marked by Turkish and Lebanese migrants along with small numbers of young professional Muslim couples from Egypt, Pakistan, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
Muslim Communities in Australia
Australia’s contemporary Muslim population reflects its diverse linguistic and ethnic migrant history. Many of Australia’s mosques were originally established along ethno-linguistic lines, such as Turkish, Lebanese and Egyptian communities. However, a generational shift has seen ethno-linguistic differentiations deemphasised among second-generation Muslims and Anglo-Australian Muslim converts. Australian mosques are often very , acting as cultural and social hubs for various migrant communities and providing a sense of universal connection to the Muslim world. In addition to mosques, other services and organisations help meet the needs of Australia’s Muslim population. Examples include Islamic primary and secondary schools, and the various halal butchers and restaurants in most metropolitan areas.
Today, those who identify as Muslim make up 3.2% of Australia’s population. The majority of Australia’s Muslims are Sunni, followed by ³§³ó¾±â€™a. Australia is also home to followers of various Sufi orders, including the Shadhili, Mevlevi, Naqshbandi, and Nimatullahi. Some Australian Muslims may prefer to see their Muslim identity as a cultural identification, while others are non-denominational.
Hinduism in Australia
Historical Development
Hinduism was brought to Australia during the nineteenth century by small groups of Hindus who worked as farmhands, hawkers, and cameleers alongside Muslims and Sikhs. Many Hindus were itinerant and returned to the Indian subcontinent. In 1911, there were fewer than 1000 ‘Hindoos’ recorded in Australia (0.01% of the population). The following decades, marked by two world wars and the introduction of the , saw a decline in Hindus migrating to Australia.
The Hindu community grew significantly during the 1970s. A range of spiritual figures, including gurus, yogis,Ìý²¹²Ô»åÌýswamis, began to introduce various expressions of Hinduism in Australia. For example, various guru movements gained popularity, including Transcendental Meditation and the Ramakrishna Mission. In the following decade, there was a wave of refugees and political migrants of Indian descent from Fiji, Sri Lanka and African nations. This greatly contributed to the growth of Australia’s Hindu population, and by 1986, the census recorded 21,500 people identifying as Hindu, 0.26% of the population.
Hindu Communities in Australia
Today, Hinduism is the fastest-growing religion in Australia, up from 0.7% in 2006 to 2.7% in 2021. Much of this growth is attributed to migration, with about half (51.0%) of those born in India and 44.9% of those born in Fiji identifying as Hindu. There are various small community groups comprised of overseas-born and Australia-born followers who meet regularly for meditation and chanting. Auspicious events such as Holi and Diwali are often celebrated in homes, temples or at cultural events. Such celebrations usually involve puja, the preparation of foods and sweets, chanting and music. The influence of various Hindu spiritual movements can be seen today, from inner-city ashrams to the popularity of various forms of yoga.
Buddhism in Australia
Historical Development
Buddhism has been present in Australia since the colonial period. The first known Buddhists arrived as itinerant workers from Asia (such as China) during the Gold Rush. This was followed by a second wave some decades later, driven by Buddhism’s popularity in the United States and the Theosophical Society. During the 1970s, a large wave of Buddhist migrants arrived from Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, and Malaysia. There was also a large influx of refugees in the mid-1970s from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Simultaneously, Buddhist teachers from Europe and the United States brought forms of Buddhism that are less intertwined with various Asian cultural practices.
Buddhist Communities in Australia
Buddhism is the third-largest religious group in Australia, with 2.4% of the population identifying as Buddhist in the 2021 census. Australia’s Buddhist community remains ethnically and linguistically diverse. Many of Australia’s Buddhists have heritage in Buddhist countries. For example, the majority of those born in Cambodia (74.6%), Laos (71.1%), and Thailand (71.1%), and just under half of those born in Sri Lanka (45.3%) and Vietnam (44.7%), identify as Buddhist. However, there are also Anglo-Australian Buddhists, as well as those who have migrated from other English-speaking Western countries.
The Buddhist community is also diverse in terms of practices. While some are affiliated with schools and sects that have survived for centuries, others are part of newly emerged schools. The major branches of Buddhism (Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana) are present throughout Australia. For example, there are various meditation centres for different schools, such as from the Zen tradition, in Australia’s major cities. Nonetheless, Buddhists from all traditions come together during May to commemorate Vesak and celebrate the life and teachings of the Buddha.
Sikhism in Australia
Historical Development
The introduction and growth of the Sikh community in Australia is closely linked to the larger pattern of South Asian migration. Many Sikhs arrived as cameleers in the 1860s, referred to as ‘Afghans’ at the time. At its core, Sikhism is a monotheistic faith that emphasises equality across all factions of society (especially gender and caste). Sikhism was founded in the Punjab region by Guru Nanak (1469-1539), who was succeeded by nine gurus (‘teachers’) over the span of nearly 240 years. The final leader, Guru Gobind Singh, declared the sacred Sikh scriptures, known as the Guru Granth Sahib, as the final and eternal guru of the Sikh community.
Sikh Community in Australia
According to the 2021 census, 210,400 people identified as Sikh (0.8% of the population). The influence and presence of the Sikh community can be seen throughout Australia. For example, Sikh temples known as gurdwaras can be found in various parts of Australia. These places of worship serve as sites for congregational prayer and social activities, such as communal meals (langar).
_____________________
1 Tatz, 2009