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, Anglican Church of Australia was the most common religious affiliation among residents in Torres Strait Island (R), accounting for 32.9% (1,353 people). This share was higher than Regional Qld (12.8%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in Pentecostal, nfd, which increased by 439 people and 10.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Religion - Ranked by size
Torres Strait Island (R) - Total persons (Usual residence)
This table summarises religion for Torres Strait Island (R) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Qld and change since 2016.
Religion - Ranked by size snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Torres Strait Island (R), with comparison markers for Regional Qld.
Anglican Church of Australia
Pentecostal, nfd
No Religion, so described
Not stated
Western Catholic
Christianity, nfd
United Pentecostal
Anglican Catholic Church
Australian Christian Churches (Assemblies of God)
Seventh-day Adventist
Chart view
Religion - Ranked by size change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
Anglican Church of Australia
-111
+0.5pp
Pentecostal, nfd
+439
+10.9pp
No Religion, so described
+174
+4.9pp
Not stated
-37
0.0pp
Western Catholic
-41
-0.2pp
Christianity, nfd
-257
-5.0pp
United Pentecostal
-70
-1.2pp
Anglican Catholic Church
-142
-2.8pp
Australian Christian Churches (Assemblies of God)
-45
-0.8pp
Seventh-day Adventist
+8
+0.3pp
Data table
Religion for Torres Strait Island (R). Religion - Ranked by size. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Qld.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | % | Regional Qld% | Count | pp | |
| Anglican Church of Australia | 1,353 | 32.9% | 12.8% | 1,464 | 32.4% | 17.1% | -111 | +0.5pp |
| Pentecostal, nfd | 535 | 13.0% | 1.1% | 96 | 2.1% | 1.2% | +439 | +10.9pp |
| No Religion, so described | 484 | 11.8% | 40.1% | 310 | 6.9% | 27.9% | +174 | +4.9pp |
| Not stated | 396 | 9.6% | 8.8% | 433 | 9.6% | 10.1% | -37 | 0.0pp |
| Western Catholic | 343 | 8.3% | 18.7% | 384 | 8.5% | 22.0% | -41 | -0.2pp |
| Christianity, nfd | 301 | 7.3% | 3.0% | 558 | 12.3% | 3.0% | -257 | -5.0pp |
| United Pentecostal | 158 | 3.8% | 0.0% | 228 | 5.0% | 0.0% | -70 | -1.2pp |
| Anglican Catholic Church | 157 | 3.8% | 0.0% | 299 | 6.6% | 0.0% | -142 | -2.8pp |
| Australian Christian Churches (Assemblies of God) | 120 | 2.9% | 0.1% | 165 | 3.7% | 0.2% | -45 | -0.8pp |
| Seventh-day Adventist | 46 | 1.1% | 0.3% | 38 | 0.8% | 0.4% | +8 | +0.3pp |
| Total | 4,111 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 4,519 | 100.0% | 100.0% | -408 | 0.0pp |
Excludes religions with fewer than 10 adherents.