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 Murray (S), accounting for 48.5% (8,768 people). This share was higher than Regional WA (45.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in No religion, which increased by 3,181 people and 15 percentage points.
Section overview
Religion - Ranked by size
Murray (S) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises religion for Murray (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional WA and change since 2016.
Religion - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Murray (S), with comparison markers for Regional WA.
No Religion, so described
Anglican Church of Australia
Western Catholic
Not stated
Uniting Church
Christianity, nfd
Baptist
Presbyterian
Jehovah's Witnesses
Buddhism
Chart view
Religion - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No Religion, so described
+3,181
+15.0pp
Anglican Church of Australia
-944
-7.0pp
Western Catholic
-496
-4.2pp
Not stated
-129
-1.5pp
Uniting Church
-103
-0.8pp
Christianity, nfd
-35
-0.4pp
Baptist
+12
0.0pp
Presbyterian
-77
-0.6pp
Jehovah's Witnesses
-7
-0.2pp
Buddhism
+2
0.0pp
Data table
Religion for Murray (S). Religion - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional WA.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | % | Regional WA% | Count | pp | |
| No Religion, so described | 8,768 | 48.5% | 45.6% | 5,587 | 33.5% | 33.8% | +3,181 | +15.0pp |
| Anglican Church of Australia | 2,827 | 15.6% | 11.3% | 3,771 | 22.6% | 16.4% | -944 | -7.0pp |
| Western Catholic | 2,520 | 13.9% | 15.7% | 3,016 | 18.1% | 19.3% | -496 | -4.2pp |
| Not stated | 1,568 | 8.7% | 12.1% | 1,697 | 10.2% | 12.4% | -129 | -1.5pp |
| Uniting Church | 412 | 2.3% | 2.1% | 515 | 3.1% | 3.2% | -103 | -0.8pp |
| Christianity, nfd | 410 | 2.3% | 3.2% | 445 | 2.7% | 3.3% | -35 | -0.4pp |
| Baptist | 318 | 1.8% | 1.6% | 306 | 1.8% | 1.8% | +12 | 0.0pp |
| Presbyterian | 225 | 1.2% | 0.9% | 302 | 1.8% | 1.4% | -77 | -0.6pp |
| Jehovah's Witnesses | 186 | 1.0% | 0.5% | 193 | 1.2% | 0.6% | -7 | -0.2pp |
| Buddhism | 125 | 0.7% | 0.9% | 123 | 0.7% | 1.0% | +2 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 18,065 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 16,681 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,384 | 0.0pp |
Excludes religions with fewer than 10 adherents.