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 Shoalwater (WA), accounting for 43.9% (1,916 people). This share was lower than Rockingham (C) (50.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in No religion, which increased by 428 people and 7 percentage points.
Section overview
Religion - Ranked by size
Shoalwater (WA) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises religion for Shoalwater (WA) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Rockingham (C) and change since 2016.
This area boundary has changed from 2016 to 2021. As a result, 2016 values are mapped onto 2021 suburb boundaries using ABS concordance.
Chart view
Religion - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Shoalwater (WA), with comparison markers for Rockingham (C).
No Religion, so described
Western Catholic
Anglican Church of Australia
Not stated
Christianity, nfd
Uniting Church
Presbyterian
Baptist
Buddhism
Pentecostal, nfd
Religion - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No Religion, so described
+428
+7.0pp
Western Catholic
-13
-1.7pp
Anglican Church of Australia
-180
-5.6pp
Not stated
+126
+2.2pp
Christianity, nfd
-51
-1.5pp
Uniting Church
-15
-0.6pp
Presbyterian
-9
-0.3pp
Baptist
-1
-0.1pp
Buddhism
+4
0.0pp
Pentecostal, nfd
+3
0.0pp
Data table
Religion for Shoalwater (WA). Religion - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Rockingham (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Rockingham (C)% | Count | % | Rockingham (C)% | Count | pp | |
| No Religion, so described | 1,916 | 43.9% | 50.1% | 1,488 | 36.9% | 37.0% | +428 | +7.0pp |
| Western Catholic | 736 | 16.9% | 15.0% | 749 | 18.6% | 17.7% | -13 | -1.7pp |
| Anglican Church of Australia | 589 | 13.5% | 12.1% | 769 | 19.1% | 17.7% | -180 | -5.6pp |
| Not stated | 455 | 10.4% | 6.9% | 329 | 8.2% | 9.7% | +126 | +2.2pp |
| Christianity, nfd | 110 | 2.5% | 3.5% | 161 | 4.0% | 3.6% | -51 | -1.5pp |
| Uniting Church | 97 | 2.2% | 1.4% | 112 | 2.8% | 2.2% | -15 | -0.6pp |
| Presbyterian | 68 | 1.6% | 1.2% | 77 | 1.9% | 1.7% | -9 | -0.3pp |
| Baptist | 47 | 1.1% | 1.5% | 48 | 1.2% | 1.6% | -1 | -0.1pp |
| Buddhism | 37 | 0.8% | 0.9% | 33 | 0.8% | 1.0% | +4 | 0.0pp |
| Pentecostal, nfd | 35 | 0.8% | 0.9% | 32 | 0.8% | 0.9% | +3 | 0.0pp |
| Total | 4,366 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,030 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +336 | 0.0pp |
Excludes religions with fewer than 10 adherents.