Cultural diversity
Religion
Religion records a person's stated religious affiliation, including no religion and not stated responses. It is a measure of cultural identity and belief rather than practice or participation.
About this topic
Religion records a person's stated religious affiliation, including no religion and not stated responses. It is a measure of cultural identity and belief rather than practice or participation.
This topic helps show the religious diversity of an area and can support planning for community facilities, faith-based services, and inclusive engagement. It is best interpreted with ancestry, birthplace, and language, which together provide a broader picture of cultural composition.
Interpretation notes
- This records stated religious affiliation, not attendance or level of religious practice.
- No religion and not stated are part of the overall picture, so interpretation should consider both affiliation and non-response.
Key insight
In 2021, No religion was the most common religious affiliation among residents in Bellingen (A), accounting for 50.9% (6,735 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (37.4%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in No religion, which increased by 1,742 people and 11.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Religion - Ranked by size
Bellingen (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises religion for Bellingen (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Chart view
Religion - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Bellingen (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
No Religion, so described
Anglican Church of Australia
Western Catholic
Not stated
Uniting Church
Christianity, nfd
Presbyterian
Buddhism
Inadequately described
Pentecostal, nfd
Religion - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No Religion, so described
+1,742
+11.5pp
Anglican Church of Australia
-527
-4.7pp
Western Catholic
-306
-3.0pp
Not stated
+38
-0.1pp
Uniting Church
-171
-1.5pp
Christianity, nfd
+3
-0.1pp
Presbyterian
-87
-0.8pp
Buddhism
-42
-0.4pp
Inadequately described
-9
-0.1pp
Pentecostal, nfd
-33
-0.3pp
Data table
Religion for Bellingen (A). Religion - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional NSW.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | % | Regional NSW% | Count | pp | |
| No Religion, so described | 6,735 | 50.9% | 37.4% | 4,993 | 39.4% | 26.0% | +1,742 | +11.5pp |
| Anglican Church of Australia | 1,863 | 14.1% | 17.0% | 2,390 | 18.8% | 21.9% | -527 | -4.7pp |
| Western Catholic | 1,555 | 11.7% | 21.0% | 1,861 | 14.7% | 23.8% | -306 | -3.0pp |
| Not stated | 1,244 | 9.4% | 7.7% | 1,206 | 9.5% | 9.3% | +38 | -0.1pp |
| Uniting Church | 470 | 3.6% | 3.3% | 641 | 5.1% | 4.5% | -171 | -1.5pp |
| Christianity, nfd | 277 | 2.1% | 2.2% | 274 | 2.2% | 2.2% | +3 | -0.1pp |
| Presbyterian | 257 | 1.9% | 2.6% | 344 | 2.7% | 3.5% | -87 | -0.8pp |
| Buddhism | 174 | 1.3% | 0.8% | 216 | 1.7% | 0.8% | -42 | -0.4pp |
| Inadequately described | 71 | 0.5% | 0.4% | 80 | 0.6% | 0.4% | -9 | -0.1pp |
| Pentecostal, nfd | 65 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 98 | 0.8% | 0.8% | -33 | -0.3pp |
| Total | 13,239 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 12,684 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +555 | 0.0pp |
Excludes religions with fewer than 10 adherents.