Australians have said they have ‘no religion’ on every census we’ve had – and it is growing every year
In Australia’s first census in 1911, only 0.4% of us said we had ‘no religion’. Now, ‘no religion’ is Australia’s biggest religious affiliation.
Australia's census data reveals a growing trend of individuals identifying as "no religion," with this group increasing from a mere 0.4% in 1911 to nearly 39% by 2021. This shift is attributed to various factors, including the abolition of the White Australia Policy, which increased religious diversity through immigration, and a growing acceptance of non-religious identities among the population.
The introduction of the "none" option in 1971 and the inclusion of "no religion" as a check box in 1991 further facilitated this change. While some immigrants may identify as "no religion" and feel comfortable expressing this identity in Australia, others may choose this option to avoid religious discrimination. The data reflects the complex interplay between religious diversity, migration, and social attitudes towards non-religious identities within Australia.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
