Canadian stats on non christian growth. QUITE interesting
http://www.religioustolerance.org/can_rel2.htm
NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS DATA
FROM THE CANADIAN 2001 CENSUS
Overview:
Statistics Canada reported the following data on individual faith groups in their 1991 and 2001 census. Membership include adults and children, and is self-reported. There are major problems with this method of counting:
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Some individuals identify themselves with a particular religion, even though they have never been to a religious service in years. [/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Some are reluctant to reveal their religious affiliation to a census taker or pollster who might be a neighbor. Some religious groups are widely hated by some Canadians. Examples include
Wicca, other
Neopagan faiths,
Satanism,
Atheism,
Agnosticism and
Humanism.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]According to Statistics Canada anyone who says they are of a certain faith is counted as being from that faith. But many people use other definitions. Many conservative Protestants, for example, do not regard
Jehovah's Witnesses,
Mormons, Spiritualists, etc. as Christian.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Some major non-Christian shifts over the decade:[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Canada is becoming increasingly secular, as more people no longer associate with any organized religion.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Wiccans and other
Neopagans had the highest percentage growth rate, at over 280%.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Native Canadian Spirituality is recovering from centuries of oppression, with a growth rate of about 175%.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]The growth of many non-Christian religions is influenced by immigration.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]"NOTAs" (None Of The Above) -- persons with no religious affiliation -- had the greatest numerical growth; they increased by 1,463,080 individuals.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
In addition:[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Christianity remains the largest religious group.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Christianity in Canada is growing slowly in total membership, by about 1.5% over the decade.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Within Christianity, the conservative Protestant groups have the greatest growth.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]However, Christians are declining as a percentage of the population.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]We have highlighted
in bold those groups which are growing faster than the total population.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Total numbers and growth between 1991 and 2001:[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
In Canada:[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Total[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
1991 total[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
2001 total[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Percentage Growth
[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Total Canadian population[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
26,994,040[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
29,639,035[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 09.8%
[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Christian[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]22,503,360 (83.3%)[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]22,851,825 (77.1%)[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]+ 01.5[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Non-Christian[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,093,680 (4.1%)[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,887,115 (6.4%)[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+72.5[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
No religious affiliation[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]3,397,000 (12.6%)[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]4,900,095 (16.5%)[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+44.2[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Other than Christian religions:[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Group[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Membership, 1991 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Membership, 2001[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Percentage Growth[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Large religious groups (over 100K)[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Muslim[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]253,265[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]579,645 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+128.9%[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Jewish[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]318,185[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]329,990 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]+ 03.7[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Buddhist 1[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]163,415[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]300,345 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 83.8[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Hindu[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]157,010[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]297,200 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 89.3[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Sikh[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]147,440[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]278,415 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 88.8[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Eastern Religions:[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Baha'i[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]14,730[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]18,020 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 22.3[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Jains[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,410[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]2,455 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 74.1[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Shinto[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]445[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]545 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 22.5[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Taoist[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,725[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]3,440 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 99.4[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Zoroastrian[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]3,185[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]4,955 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
55.6[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Eastern religions,[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]n.i.e. 2[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]4,825[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]8,125 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]+ 68.4[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Small religious groups (under 100k)[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Aboriginal spirituality[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]10,840[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]29,825 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+175.1[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Pagan[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]5,530[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]21,080 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+281.2[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Unity - New Thought - Pantheist[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]4,610[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]4,000 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]- 13.2[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
New Age 3[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,200[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,530 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 27.5[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Scientology[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,215[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,525 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 25.5[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Gnostic[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]765[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,160 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 51.6[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Rastafarian[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]460[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,135 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+146.7[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Satanist[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]340[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]850 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+150.0[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Unitarian 4[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]16,535[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]17,480 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]+ 05.7[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Other non-Christian religions, [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
n.i.e.[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]3,090[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]2,870 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]- 07.1[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Persons who are affiliated with a religious group (4,900,095 in total):[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Group[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Membership, 1991 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Membership,[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
2001[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Percentage Growth[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Agnostic[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]21,970[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]17,815 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
- 18.9%[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Atheist 5[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]13,515[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]18,605 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 37.7[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Humanist[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]1,245[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]2,105 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 69.1[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
No religious affiliation[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]3,333,245[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]4,796,325 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 43.9[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Other, n.i.e.[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]27,025[/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]65,245 [/FONT][FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
+ 141.4[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]It seems curious that Atheists and Humanists show such a rapid percentage increase, yet Agnostics show a decline. Perhaps we are seeing an increase in polarization.[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Notes:[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
- Statistics Canada recognizes Jainism, Shinto, Taoism, etc. as "Eastern Religions." But other religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Sikhism, etc., which are found throughout the same areas of the world, are not listed as "Eastern." We are at a loss to understand this.
- "n.i.e." means "not included elsewhere."
- Statistics Canada quoted less than two thousand Canadians who consider New Age to be their religion. There are probably hundreds of thousands who graft New Age beliefs and practices onto another religion who are not counted here.
- For no obvious reason, Statistics Canada classified the Unitarian faith as Christian. A survey of almost 10,000 Unitarian Universalists in the U.S. found that over 46% were Humanists, and fewer than 10% identified themselves as Christian. So we have replicated there data here.
- Most dictionaries define an Atheist as a person as a person who actively rejects the existence of a God or Goddess or pantheon of deities. Some Atheists define Atheism as a lack of belief in any supreme deity or deities.
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
References:[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]"
Religion (95A), Age Groups (7A) and Sex (3) for Population, for Canada, Provinces, Territories, Census Metropolitan Areas 1 and Census Agglomerations, 1991 and 2001 Censuses - 20% Sample Data," Statistics Canada, at:
http://www12.statcan.ca/ This list also gives membership breakdowns by age groups. This appears to be no longer a valid URL. A chart remains online at the Stats Can web site at:
http://www12.statcan.ca/[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
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[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]
Copyright information[/FONT]
[FONT=trebuchet ms,arial,helvetica]Census data from
"Statistics Canada...is used with the permission of Statistics Canada. Users are forbidden to copy the data and redisseminate them, in an original or modified form, for commercial purposes, without the expressed permission of Statistics Canada. Information on the availability of the wide range of data from Statistics Canada can be obtained from Statistics Canada's Regional Offices, its World Wide Web site at http://www.statcan.ca, and its toll-free access number 1-800-263-1136."[/FONT]
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