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 Atherton, accounting for 37.8% (2,914 people). This share was lower than Tablelands (R) (39.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in No religion, which increased by 839 people and 9.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Religion - Ranked by size
Atherton - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises religion for Atherton in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Tablelands (R) and change since 2016.
Chart view
Religion - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Atherton, with comparison markers for Tablelands (R).
No Religion, so described
Western Catholic
Anglican Church of Australia
Not stated
Uniting Church
Christianity, nfd
Presbyterian
Baptist
Pentecostal, nfd
Jehovah's Witnesses
Religion - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No Religion, so described
+839
+9.4pp
Western Catholic
-300
-5.1pp
Anglican Church of Australia
-194
-3.3pp
Not stated
+169
+1.7pp
Uniting Church
-97
-1.5pp
Christianity, nfd
+4
-0.2pp
Presbyterian
-11
-0.3pp
Baptist
+31
+0.3pp
Pentecostal, nfd
-10
-0.3pp
Jehovah's Witnesses
-22
-0.4pp
Data table
Religion for Atherton. Religion - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Tablelands (R).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | % | Tablelands (R)% | Count | pp | |
| No Religion, so described | 2,914 | 37.8% | 39.6% | 2,075 | 28.4% | 29.5% | +839 | +9.4pp |
| Western Catholic | 1,485 | 19.3% | 17.8% | 1,785 | 24.4% | 21.9% | -300 | -5.1pp |
| Anglican Church of Australia | 881 | 11.4% | 11.7% | 1,075 | 14.7% | 15.5% | -194 | -3.3pp |
| Not stated | 845 | 11.0% | 11.8% | 676 | 9.3% | 11.2% | +169 | +1.7pp |
| Uniting Church | 308 | 4.0% | 4.4% | 405 | 5.5% | 6.0% | -97 | -1.5pp |
| Christianity, nfd | 266 | 3.4% | 3.2% | 262 | 3.6% | 3.0% | +4 | -0.2pp |
| Presbyterian | 239 | 3.1% | 2.5% | 250 | 3.4% | 3.5% | -11 | -0.3pp |
| Baptist | 149 | 1.9% | 1.8% | 118 | 1.6% | 1.8% | +31 | +0.3pp |
| Pentecostal, nfd | 96 | 1.2% | 0.7% | 106 | 1.5% | 0.9% | -10 | -0.3pp |
| Jehovah's Witnesses | 88 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 110 | 1.5% | 1.1% | -22 | -0.4pp |
| Total | 7,714 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 7,304 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +410 | 0.0pp |
Excludes religions with fewer than 10 adherents.