Christian – 59%
Unaffiliated – 17%
Muslim – 9%
Hindu – 4%
Buddhist – 4%
Other – 4% (mostly Sikh)
Jewish – 2%
Source: Todd, 2012.
Origin data, presented in Pew Forum (2012) Report, derived from 2006 Canadian census figures, based on birth (available at
www12.statcan.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/hlt/97-557/T404-eng.cfm?Lang=E&T=404&GH=4&GF=1&SC=1&S=1&O=D).
Source: Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. (2013). Canada’s Changing Religious Landscape: Overview. Accessed July 15, 2013 at www.pewforum.org/Geography/Canadas-Changing-Religious-Landscape.aspx
Note: Unlike in previous decades, when a religion question was included in the census, in 2011 it was part of a voluntary survey among 4.5 million randomly selected households. Roughly 2.65 million households participated in the survey. Statistics Canada has indicated that some groups – immigrants, ethnic minorities, non-English or non-French speakers and Aboriginal Peoples – may be underrepresented among participants in the voluntary survey. Despite these challenges, the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) represents the best data source for religious affiliation in Canada in 2011 (Pew Forum 2013).
In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre the percentage growth of the religiously unaffiliated in Canada and the US in shown between 1970 and 2010. In Canada, the percentage has increased from 4% in 1970 to 24% in 2011. In the US, the figure has increased from 5% to 20% over the same period.
*1985-2008 from Statistics Canada (population aged 18+)
Source: Environics Institute (2011), Focus Canada 2011, p. 39.
In a survey conducted by the Environics Institute, Canadians who identified as being affiliated with a religion was 88% in 1985, 88% in 1990, 85% in 1995, 80% in 2000, 79% in 2004, 74% in 2008, and 69% in 2011. The graph shows a steady decline in religious affiliation among Canadians from 1985 to 2011.
Source: Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. (2013). Canada’s Changing Religious Landscape: Overview. Accessed July 15, 2013 at www.pewforum.org/Geography/Canadas-Changing-Religious-Landscape.aspx
Note: Unlike in previous decades, when a religion question was included in the census, in 2011 it was part of a voluntary survey among 4.5 million randomly selected households. Roughly 2.65 million households took part in the survey. Statistics Canada has indicated that some groups – immigrants, ethnic minorities, non-English or non-French speakers and Aboriginal Peoples – may be underrepresented among participants in the voluntary survey. Despite these challenges, the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) represents the best data source for religious affiliation in Canada in 2011 (Pew Forum 2013).
In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre, trends in Canadian disaffiliation are shown between 1971 and 2011. The graph displays trends by the percentage of each age cohort that is religiously unaffiliated. The first age cohort born 1946 or earlier shows an increase in those religiously unaffiliated from 4% to 12% from 1971 to 2011. In the second cohort born 1947 to 1966, the increase is 9% to 20% between 1981 and 2011. In the third cohort, born 1967 to 1986, the increase is 21% to 29% between 2001 and 2011. In the fourth cohort born 1987 to 1995, the percentage not religiously affiliated is 29% in 2011.
Source: Environics Institute (2011), Focus Canada 2011, p.41.
A 2011 survey conducted by the Environics Institute measured Canadians’ belief in God or a universal spirit by gender and education. Of those surveyed, 79% indicated a belief in God or a universal spirit while 17% did not and 3% were not sure. 73% of men surveyed believed in God or a universal spirit while women showed a higher percentage at 85%. When considering education levels, 91% of people with less than a high school education believed in God or a universal spirit, 82% for people with a high school education, 80% for people with college or some university education, and 75% for university graduates.
Source: Environics Institute (2011), Focus Canada 2011, p.40.
In 2011, the Environics Institute conducted a survey on the importance of religion in the personal lives of Canadians with a religious affiliation. Of people surveyed, 39% of respondents with a religious affiliation indicated that religion was considered important in their personal lives. Of those who identifying with a specific group, 28% of Catholic repondents, 39% of Mainline Protestant, 73% of Evangelical Christian, 51% of Other Christian, and 47% identified as Other Religion indicated religion was important in their personal lives.
Source: Environics Institute (2011), Focus Canada 2011, p.42.
In 2011, the Environics Institute conducted a survey examining whether religious practice is considered very important in the moral/ethical lives of Canadians between 1981 and 2011. In total, 42% of Canadians stated religious practice was important in their moral/ethical lives in 1981 vs. 26% of Canadians in 2011. Of the total respondents, people in the 18-29 age group responded at 28% in 1981 and 25% in 2011, 40% in 1981 and 20% in 2011 for the 30-44 age group, 48% in 1981 and 25% in 2011 for the 45-59 age group, and 60% in 1981 and 36% in 2011 for Canadians aged 60 or older.
Source: Environics Institute (2011), Focus Canada 2011, p.40.
In 2011, the Environics Institute conducted a survey examining the frequency of attending religious services among Canadians with a religious affiliation between 2003 and 2011. Of people who attended religious services at least once per week, 21% attended in 2003, 25% in 2007, and 29% in 2011. Of people who attended every 2-3 weeks, 6% attended in 2003, 6% in 2007, and 7% in 2011. Of people who attended once a month or less, 10% attended in 2003, 14% in 2007, and 14% in 2011. Of those who attended special services only, 27% attended in 2003, 33% in 2007, and 28% in 2011. Of people who never or almost never attended religious services, 35% in reported never or almost never attending in 2003, 21% in 2007, and 22% in 2011.
Source: Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. (2013). Canada’s Changing Religious Landscape: Overview. Accessed July 15, 2013 at www.pewforum.org/Geography/Canadas-Changing-Religious-Landscape.aspx
Note: Unlike in previous decades, when a religion question was included in the census, in 2011 it was part of a voluntary survey among 4.5 million randomly selected households. Roughly 2.65 million households took part in the survey. Statistics Canada has indicated that some groups – immigrants, ethnic minorities, non-English or non-French speakers and Aboriginal Peoples – may be underrepresented among participants in the voluntary survey. Despite these challenges, the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) represents the best data source for religious affiliation in Canada in 2011 (Pew Forum 2013).
In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre, religious attendance in Canada and the US is shown from 1986 to 2012. The survey measures the percentage of respondents who say they attended religious services at least once a month. In Canada, 43% of respondents claimed to attend religious services at least once a month in 1986 vs. 27% in 2012. In the US, 54% of respondents claimed to attend religious services at least once a month in 1986 vs. 46% in 2012. Both lines on the graph show a gradual decline in attendance of religious services at least once a month in Canada and the US from 1986 to 2012.
Source: Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life. (2013). Canada’s Changing Religious Landscape: Overview. Accessed July 15, 2013 at www.pewforum.org/Geography/Canadas-Changing-Religious-Landscape.aspx
Note: Unlike in previous decades, when a religion question was included in the census, in 2011 it was part of a voluntary survey among 4.5 million randomly selected households. Roughly 2.65 million households participated in the survey. Statistics Canada has indicated that some groups – immigrants, ethnic minorities, non-English or non-French speakers and Aboriginal Peoples – may be underrepresented among participants in the voluntary survey. Despite these challenges, the 2011 National Household Survey (NHS) represents the best data source for religious affiliation in Canada in 2011 (Pew Forum 2013).
In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Centre, the percentage of Canadians aged 15 years or older in each region who attended religious services at least once a month is shown between 1986 and 2012. In the Atlantic region, 57% of Canadians aged 15 years or older attended religious services at least once a month in 1986 vs. 31% in 2012. In the Quebec region, 48% of Canadians aged 15 years or older attended religious services at least once a month in 1986 vs. 17% in 2012. In the Ontario region, 42% of Canadians aged 15 years or older attended religious services at least once a month in 1986 vs. 31% in 2012. In the Prairie Provinces, 41% of Canadians aged 15 years or older attended religious services at least once a month in 1986 vs. 31% in 2012. In the British Columbia region, 26% of Canadians aged 15 years or older attended religious services at least once a month in 1986 vs. 23% in 2012.
North America |
||
US |
59% |
|
Canada |
30% |
|
Western Europe |
||
Great Britain |
33% |
|
Italy |
27% |
|
Germany |
21% |
|
France |
11% |
|
Eastern Europe |
||
Poland |
36% |
|
Ukraine |
35% |
|
Slovakia |
29% |
|
Russia |
14% |
|
Bulgaria |
13% |
|
Czech |
11% |
|
Conflict area |
||
Pakistan |
91% |
|
Turkey |
65% |
|
Uzbekistan |
35% |
|
Latin America |
||
Guatemala |
80% |
|
Brazil |
77% |
|
Honduras |
72% |
|
Peru |
69% |
|
Bolivia |
66% |
|
Venezuela |
61% |
|
Mexico |
57% |
|
Argentina |
39% |
|
Asia |
||
Indonesia |
95% |
|
India |
92% |
|
Philippines |
88% |
|
Bangladesh |
88% |
|
Korea |
25% |
|
Vietnam |
24% |
|
Japan |
12% |
|
Africa |
||
Senegal |
97% |
|
Nigeria |
92% |
|
Ivory Coast |
91% |
|
Mali |
90% |
|
South Africa |
87% |
|
Kenya |
85% |
|
Uganda |
85% |
|
Ghana |
84% |
|
Tanzania |
83% |
|
Angola |
80% |
|
Source: Adapted from Seljak et al., 2008, p.19. Original Source: Pew Research Center for the People and the Press, "Among Wealthy Nations: U.S. Stands Alone in Its Embrace of Religion."