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 Cooktown, accounting for 40.4% (1,116 people). This share was higher than Cook (S) (38.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in No religion, which increased by 288 people and 8.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Religion - Ranked by size
Cooktown - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises religion for Cooktown in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Cook (S) and change since 2016.
Religion - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Cooktown, with comparison markers for Cook (S).
No Religion, so described
Not stated
Western Catholic
Anglican Church of Australia
Lutheran
Uniting Church
Christianity, nfd
Jehovah's Witnesses
Baptist
Presbyterian
Chart view
Religion - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No Religion, so described
+288
+8.7pp
Not stated
+30
+0.2pp
Western Catholic
-77
-3.7pp
Anglican Church of Australia
-103
-4.5pp
Lutheran
+69
+2.3pp
Uniting Church
-23
-1.0pp
Christianity, nfd
-30
-1.3pp
Jehovah's Witnesses
+8
+0.2pp
Baptist
+14
+0.5pp
Presbyterian
-30
-1.2pp
Data table
Religion for Cooktown. Religion - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Cook (S).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Cook (S)% | Count | % | Cook (S)% | Count | pp | |
| No Religion, so described | 1,116 | 40.4% | 38.9% | 828 | 31.7% | 30.1% | +288 | +8.7pp |
| Not stated | 480 | 17.4% | 20.6% | 450 | 17.2% | 18.7% | +30 | +0.2pp |
| Western Catholic | 338 | 12.2% | 13.3% | 415 | 15.9% | 15.9% | -77 | -3.7pp |
| Anglican Church of Australia | 266 | 9.6% | 8.5% | 369 | 14.1% | 13.4% | -103 | -4.5pp |
| Lutheran | 171 | 6.2% | 5.3% | 102 | 3.9% | 4.9% | +69 | +2.3pp |
| Uniting Church | 52 | 1.9% | 2.1% | 75 | 2.9% | 3.2% | -23 | -1.0pp |
| Christianity, nfd | 50 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 80 | 3.1% | 2.7% | -30 | -1.3pp |
| Jehovah's Witnesses | 48 | 1.7% | 1.2% | 40 | 1.5% | 0.9% | +8 | +0.2pp |
| Baptist | 46 | 1.7% | 1.1% | 32 | 1.2% | 0.9% | +14 | +0.5pp |
| Presbyterian | 46 | 1.7% | 1.8% | 76 | 2.9% | 2.4% | -30 | -1.2pp |
| Total | 2,761 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,610 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +151 | 0.0pp |
Excludes religions with fewer than 10 adherents.