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, Western Catholic was the most common religious affiliation among residents in Forbes (A), accounting for 31.8% (2,961 people). This share was higher than Regional NSW (21%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in No religion, which increased by 885 people and 9.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Religion - Ranked by size
Forbes (A) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises religion for Forbes (A) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional NSW and change since 2016.
Religion - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Forbes (A), with comparison markers for Regional NSW.
Western Catholic
No Religion, so described
Anglican Church of Australia
Not stated
Uniting Church
Presbyterian
Christianity, nfd
Baptist
Lutheran
Buddhism
Chart view
Religion - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Western Catholic
-332
-2.6pp
No Religion, so described
+885
+9.9pp
Anglican Church of Australia
-435
-3.9pp
Not stated
-127
-1.0pp
Uniting Church
-32
-0.2pp
Presbyterian
-153
-1.6pp
Christianity, nfd
+33
+0.4pp
Baptist
-40
-0.4pp
Lutheran
-2
0.0pp
Buddhism
+5
+0.1pp
Data table
Religion for Forbes (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 | |
| Western Catholic | 2,961 | 31.8% | 21.0% | 3,293 | 34.4% | 23.8% | -332 | -2.6pp |
| No Religion, so described | 2,367 | 25.4% | 37.4% | 1,482 | 15.5% | 26.0% | +885 | +9.9pp |
| Anglican Church of Australia | 1,935 | 20.8% | 17.0% | 2,370 | 24.7% | 21.9% | -435 | -3.9pp |
| Not stated | 836 | 9.0% | 7.7% | 963 | 10.0% | 9.3% | -127 | -1.0pp |
| Uniting Church | 426 | 4.6% | 3.3% | 458 | 4.8% | 4.5% | -32 | -0.2pp |
| Presbyterian | 237 | 2.5% | 2.6% | 390 | 4.1% | 3.5% | -153 | -1.6pp |
| Christianity, nfd | 142 | 1.5% | 2.2% | 109 | 1.1% | 2.2% | +33 | +0.4pp |
| Baptist | 141 | 1.5% | 1.2% | 181 | 1.9% | 1.3% | -40 | -0.4pp |
| Lutheran | 35 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 37 | 0.4% | 0.4% | -2 | 0.0pp |
| Buddhism | 34 | 0.4% | 0.8% | 29 | 0.3% | 0.8% | +5 | +0.1pp |
| Total | 9,310 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 9,586 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -276 | 0.0pp |
Excludes religions with fewer than 10 adherents.