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 Cairns City, accounting for 29% (1,048 people). This share was lower than Cairns (R) (41.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in No religion, which increased by 243 people, while its share fell by 0.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Religion - Ranked by size
Cairns City - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises religion for Cairns City in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cairns (R) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Religion - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cairns City, with comparison markers for Cairns (R).
Not stated
No Religion, so described
Western Catholic
Anglican Church of Australia
Uniting Church
Presbyterian
Christianity, nfd
Buddhism
Hinduism
Sikhism
Religion - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Not stated
+630
+10.3pp
No Religion, so described
+243
-0.7pp
Western Catholic
+59
-2.5pp
Anglican Church of Australia
-38
-3.6pp
Uniting Church
-6
-0.7pp
Presbyterian
-12
-0.9pp
Christianity, nfd
+10
0.0pp
Buddhism
-4
-0.5pp
Hinduism
-5
-0.5pp
Sikhism
+3
-0.2pp
Data table
Religion for Cairns City. Religion - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cairns (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | % | Cairns (R)% | Count | pp | |
| Not stated | 1,405 | 38.9% | 10.2% | 775 | 28.6% | 11.5% | +630 | +10.3pp |
| No Religion, so described | 1,048 | 29.0% | 41.7% | 805 | 29.7% | 31.7% | +243 | -0.7pp |
| Western Catholic | 506 | 14.0% | 19.9% | 447 | 16.5% | 22.8% | +59 | -2.5pp |
| Anglican Church of Australia | 238 | 6.6% | 9.9% | 276 | 10.2% | 13.4% | -38 | -3.6pp |
| Uniting Church | 60 | 1.7% | 2.6% | 66 | 2.4% | 3.6% | -6 | -0.7pp |
| Presbyterian | 51 | 1.4% | 2.1% | 63 | 2.3% | 2.9% | -12 | -0.9pp |
| Christianity, nfd | 43 | 1.2% | 2.7% | 33 | 1.2% | 2.7% | +10 | 0.0pp |
| Buddhism | 38 | 1.1% | 1.7% | 42 | 1.6% | 1.8% | -4 | -0.5pp |
| Hinduism | 38 | 1.1% | 0.9% | 43 | 1.6% | 0.8% | -5 | -0.5pp |
| Sikhism | 29 | 0.8% | 0.6% | 26 | 1.0% | 0.5% | +3 | -0.2pp |
| Total | 3,615 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,707 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +908 | 0.0pp |
Excludes religions with fewer than 10 adherents.