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Canada Population by Religion
Canada, a nation known for its religious diversity and secularism, embraces a rich tapestry of beliefs and traditions. Though Christianity remains the dominant faith, with roughly half the population (53.3%) identifying as Christian, the landscape is shifting.
Immigration has played a significant role in increasing the presence of other religious groups. Notably, over a third (34.6%) of Canadians now describe themselves as unaffiliated with any religion. Meanwhile, faiths like Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism, and Buddhism are attracting an ever-growing following. Collectively, these non-Christian communities now comprise 11.92% of the population, highlighting the growing diversity of Canada’s religious landscape
Also, read about the Population of Canada
Source: Canada Census 2021
Religion Percentage in Canada
As per Canadian Census 2021, about half of Canada’s population (53.3%), reported that they were affiliated with a Christian religion. Roughly 12,577,475 people, or nearly one third of Canada’s population (34.6%), had no religious affiliation. This was rise of 10.73% from a decade earlier, as recorded in the 2011 Census.
Consistent with changing immigration patterns, there were growing proportions of the population who reported religious affiliations other than Christian. These religions included Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, and Buddhist.
Islam is the second largest religion in Canada followed by 1,775,715 people or 4.9% of the population. Hinduism is third largest religion and 828,195 or 2.3% of the population Identified themselves as Hindu.
In 2021, people who identified themselves as Sikhs made up 2.1% (771,790) of the population. Buddhist are 1%, and Jewish 0.9% of the Canadian population. Indigenous religions make up 0.2% and other religions are at 0.6% of total population.
Let’s Look at the Population of Canada’s Religion wise
| Religion | Population 2021 | Percentage |
| Christians | 19,373,325 | 53.3% |
| No religion/Unaffiliated | 12,577,475 | 34.6% |
| Muslim | 1,775,715 | 4.9% |
| Hindu | 828,195 | 2.3% |
| Sikh | 771,790 | 2.1% |
| Buddhist | 356,975 | 1% |
| Jewish | 335,295 | 0.9% |
| North American Indigenous | 80,685 | 0.2% |
| Other religions and spiritual traditions | 229,015 | 0.6% |
| Total | 36,328,480 |
Source: Census 2021
Christanity in Canada
Roman Catholics were the largest Christian religious group in 2021. About 38.78% of people identified themselves as Roman Catholic followed by United Church (3.3%) and Anglican (3.1%)
| Christian Affiliations | Population 2021 | Percentage |
| Catholic | 10,880,360 | 29.9% |
| United Church | 1,214,185 | 3.3% |
| Anglican | 1,134,315 | 3.1% |
| Christian Orthodox | 623,010 | 1.7% |
| Baptist | 436,940 | 1.2% |
| Pentecostal and other Charismatic | 399,025 | 1.1% |
| Lutheran | 328,045 | 0.9% |
| Presbyterian | 301,400 | 0.8% |
| Anabaptist | 144,145 | 0.4% |
| Jehovah’s Witness | 137,255 | 0.4% |
| Methodist and Wesleyan (Holiness) | 100,655 | 0.3% |
| Latter Day Saints | 87,725 | 0.2% |
| Reformed | 79,870 | 0.2% |
| Other Christian and Christian-related traditions | 3,506,410 | 9.7% |
Source: Canada Census 2021
Other religions in Canada
Immigration has contributed to a higher share of the population having affiliation with Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religions as well as to a higher share of the population having no religious affiliation.
Of the immigrants who came prior to 1971, only 2.9% were affiliated with Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religions, whereas 33.0% of immigrants who came between 2001 and 2011 reported affiliation to one of these religions. As well, 16.0% of immigrants who came before 1971 had no religious affiliation, compared with 22.0% among those who came between 2001 and 2005.
| Other Religion | Population 2021 | Percentage |
| Muslim | 1,775,715 | 4.9% |
| Hindu | 828,195 | 2.3% |
| Sikh | 771,790 | 2.1% |
| Buddhist | 356,975 | 1% |
| Jewish | 335,295 | 0.9% |
Islam in Canada
Islam is the second largest religion in Canada and followed by almost 5% of the population. This vibrant and multifaceted Muslim community is a mosaic of diverse backgrounds, representing various regions and cultures from around the world. Among the Muslim population in Canada, you’ll find individuals hailing from diverse backgrounds, including Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Indian, Middle Eastern (such as Lebanese, Iranian, Egyptian, and Arab), Southeast Asian, and North African descent.
In the Greater Toronto Area, 9.6% of the population is Muslim, and in Greater Montreal, 8.7% of the population is Muslim. Vancouver also has a sizeable Mulsim community and In recent years, there has been rapid population growth in Calgary and Edmonton.
Hinduism in Canada
Hinduism is the third largest religion in Canada and is followed by about 1 million people or 2.3% of the population. The Hindu community in Canada is a vibrant and multifaceted group, primarily consisting of Indian immigrants from India, as well as a substantial number of Sri Lankan Tamil Hindus, Nepali Hindus, and Caribbean Indians.
The vast majority of Hindus reside in specific regions of Canada, further enriching the cultural diversity of these areas. In Ontario, Hindu communities thrive primarily in cities such as Toronto, Scarborough, Brampton, Hamilton, Windsor, and Ottawa. Quebec hosts a significant Hindu population concentrated primarily around the Montreal area. Meanwhile, in British Columbia, Hindus are primarily centered around the Vancouver area.
Sikhism in Canada
Sikhism in Canada is the country’s fourth-largest religion, with 771,000 followers, making up 2.1% of the population as of 2021. The largest Sikh populations are in Ontario, British Columbia, and Alberta. Over half of Canada’s Sikhs live in Brampton, Surrey, Calgary, and Edmonton. Canada has the world’s largest proportion of Sikhs (2.1%) and the second-largest Sikh population after India. British Columbia has the world’s third-largest Sikh proportion (5.9%) after Punjab and Chandigarh in India. Additionally, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Yukon are among the very few places globally where Sikhism is the second most followed religion.
Source: Census 2021
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