Subject: Census Data 1996 Australian Population Census Data
The census provides a very useful snapshot of Australian life every five years. The religion question does not tell us about how many go to church, or how religious people are, but it does give an indication how many identify with each religious group in Australia.
The 1996 picture confirmed many suspicions, but also contained some significant surprises.
Here is a summary of the results:
Population 17,752,829 16,850,334
(Rise in population: 5.36%)
Rise in 'No Religion'.
One of the major surprises was the increase in those describing themselves as 'no religion'. Between 1986 and 1991, there had been only a small increase in this group, from 12.7 percent of the population to 12.9 percent. It appeared as if the trend towards 'no religion' was levelling out. However, 1996 saw another significant increase to 16.8 percent of the population. Part of the increase in 'no religion' is offset by a decrease in the numbers failing to answer the question. The religion question has always been optional but the numbers chosing not to answer have fluctuated considerably in the past. In 1991, 10.2 percent chose not to answer. In 1996, this percentage dropped to 8.7 percent.
Christian Denominations
Overall, the percentage of Australians identifying with a Christian denomination was down from 1991, dropping from 74.0 percent to 70.9 percent. Most of the mainstream denominations saw a decline. The drop was most substantial for the Anglicans, down from 23.9 percent of the population to 22.0: an actual decrease in numbers of 115,446. The Presbyterians experienced a substantial decline too, from 4.4 percent of the population to 3.8 percent; and so did the Uniting Church, from 8.2 percent to 7.5 percent of the population. Both the Presbyterians and the Uniting Church saw a drop in the actual numbers identifying with them of over 50,000 people. The Catholics should have continued to grow substantially given the younger profile than other mainstream denominations, and continued growth from immigration. While they saw a small increase in actual numbers, they decline as a percentage of the population from 27.3 percent to 27.0 percent.
Many other Christian groups maintained their numbers or saw small decreases in their percentage share of the population, including Baptists, Churches of Christ, Orthodox, Salvation Army and Seventh-day Adventists. One of the Christian groups to maintain growth was the Pentecostals, although not nearly as strongly as in previous years. Between 1986 and 1991, the Pentecostals had grown by about 50 percent. However, between 1991 and 1996, they grew by only 16 percent. Quite a large part of that growth would be due to 'biological growth', the children of Pentecostals. Apart from that growth, over five years, it is unlikely that they had a net gain of more than 15,000 in those identifying with them. The Latter Day Saints and the Jehovah's Witnesses grew quite substantially. In fact, the Jehovah's Witnesses overtook the Churches of Christ and the Salvation Army in size, growing to 83,414.
Other Religions
The fastest growing religious group in the period 1991 to 1996 was the Hindus. They grew by 23,699 to a total of 67,279 people (a rise of 54 percent). Other religious groups with a basis in Asia also grew: the Buddhists by 60,017 (43 percent), and the Muslims by 53,378 (36 percent). Altogether, the percentage of the population belonging to a religion other than Christianity, grew from 2.6 percent to 3.5 percent, an increase of over 170,00 people. These increases can be accounted for in terms of immigration patterns.
Census Office
With the cooperation of the Uniting Church, Synod of Victoria, and the Salvation Army, Southern Territory, the Christian Research Association is establishing a 'census office'. We are purchasing data and will be able to provide information and analyses to church and para-church organisations. We are employing a person whose primary task will be to analyse the census data and provide reports.
In particular, we will be able to provide the following: If you are involved in strategic planning for future ministry, contact us to see how the information we have available can assist you.
For more detail on the Census Data 1996, see Pointers, the Bulletin of the Christian Research Association, published quarterly for $20 per annum. To order Pointers or to contact the CRA about the Census Office, write to CRA, Locked Bag 23, Kew, 3101. There are also more figures from the Census Data 1996 on the CRA web-site:
Received this from Rev. Dr Philip Hughes (Christian Research Association). (Hope the columns come out right :-)
Date: Fri, 08 Aug 1997
From: Philip Hughes <
Religious Group 1996 Census % 1991 Census %
Anglican 3,903,324 21.99 4,018,770 23.85
Baptist 295,178 1.66 279,920 1.66
Brethren 22,063 0.12 24,127 0.14
Catholic 4,798,950 27.03 4,606,644 27.34
Churches of Christ 75,023 0.42 78,039 0.46
JWs 83,414 0.47 74,803 0.44
Latter Day Saints 45,112 0.25 38,298 0.23
Lutherans 249,989 1.41 250,844 1.49
Oriental Christians 31,342 0.18 23,294 0.14
Orthodox 497,015 2.80 474,921 2.82
Pentecostals 174,720 0.98 150,665 0.89
Presbyterians 675,534 3.81 732,227 4.35
Salvation Army 74,145 0.42 71,984 0.43
Seventh Day Adventist 52,655 0.30 48,341 0.29
Uniting 1,334,917 7.52 1,387,646 8.24
Other Christians 269,383 1.52 205,121 1.22
Total Christians 12,582,764 70.88 12,465,644 73.98
Buddhism 199,812 1.13 139,795 0.83
Hinduism 67,279 0.38 43,580 0.26
Islam 200,885 1.13 147,507 0.88
Judaism 79,805 0.45 74,266 0.44
Other religions 68,647 0.39 39,932 0.24
Total non-Christian 616,428 3.47 445,252 2.64
No religion 2,948,888 16.61 2,176,608 12.92
Inadequately described 54,164 0.31 49,853 0.30
Not stated 1,550,585 8.73 1,712,322 10.16
* detailed maps and analyses for congregations or schools of their own areas
* analysis of areas for the planting of new churches
* analysis of areas for planning new forms of ministry
* general analysis of city, state and nation-wide trends for denominational groups.
www.ozemail.com.au/~cramelb.
You can also contact the CRA by email:
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