Religion in Canada

The world, Canada and Waterloo RegionReligious Statistics

Religion in the World

Religion in the WorldWorld Statistics for 2005 Christianity 2.1 billion (over 1 billion RC)Islam - 1.5 billionHinduism - 900 millionBuddhism - 376 millionIndigenous - 300 millionSikhism - 23 millionJudaism - 14 million

Religion in Canada is changingIn Canada, the numbers of people who do not attend religious services is increasing.Does this imply that Canadians are not spiritual or just not religious?Almost 40% of adult Canadians who do not attend services say they do religious practices on their own.44% of Canadians rate religion as highly important to them, whether or not they attend services.Stats Canada looks at religiosity using four measurements (affiliation, attendance, personal practices, importance of religion) and finds that Canadians religiosity depends on a few factors:Age (people often become more religious with age)Time in Canada (newer Canadians tend to be more religious)Parents religion (same or different than each other)GenderWhy are some people religious?Create a t-chart:Reasons people are religiousReasons people are not religious

Why are some people religious?According to some experts, people are religious because of:being taught it in childhoodfeardesperation/needtraditionsocial connectionscomfort and reassurancespiritual fulfillment/happinessAccepting the teachings as true (rational)

Some people leave religion because of:Dislike of structure, limitations, restrictionsFinding it irrelevant or out-datedDisillusionment with the institutionsFinding group exclusivePreferring alternative explanationsFinding practices, services dull

Religious pluralismHistorically, Christianity has been the dominant religion in Canada while the govt protects the right to practice any religion.As immigration patterns change and native-born Canadians become less religious, Christian numbers are decreasing.Christian social justice programs and charities will need to be replaced with others

Province/Territory

ChristiansBritish Columbia54.9%Yukon58.4%Alberta71.3%Ontario74.5%Canada77.1%Manitoba77.8%Northwest Territories79.9%Saskatchewan82.6%Nova Scotia86.9%Quebec90.2%New Brunswick91.4%Prince Edward Island92.8%Nunavut93.2%Newfoundland and Labrador97.1%2001

Percentage distribution (2001)

Percentage change(1991-2001)

Median age

Canada Total population 29,639,030100.0%9.8%37.3Roman Catholic 12,793,12543.2%4.8%37.8No religion 4,796,32516.2%43.9%31.1United Church 2,839,1259.6%- 8.2%44.1Anglican 2,035,5006.9%- 7.0%43.8Christian not included elsewhere780,4502.6%121.1%30.2Baptist 729,4702.5%10.0%39.3Lutheran 606,5902.0%- 4.7%43.3Muslim 579,6402.0%128.9%28.1Protestant not included elsewhere 549,2051.9%- 12.7%40.4Presbyterian 409,8301.4%- 35.6%46.0Pentecostal 369,4751.2%- 15.3%33.5Jewish 329,9951.1%3.7%41.5Buddhist 300,3451.0%83.8%38.0Hindu 297,2001.0%89.3%31.9Sikh 278,4100.9%88.8%29.7Greek Orthodox 215,1750.7%- 7.1%40.7Mennonite 191,4650.6%- 7.9%32.0Orthodox not included elsewhere 165,4200.6%79.9%35.4Jehovah's Witnesses 154,7500.5%- 8.1%38.7Ukrainian Catholic 126,2000.4%- 1.7%45.0Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) 101,8050.3%8.4%28.7Salvation Army 87,7900.3%- 21.9%39.3Christian Reformed Church 76,6700.3%- 9.5%32.3Evangelical Missionary Church 66,7050.2%48.4%35.2Christian and Missionary Alliance 66,2850.2%11.9%34.5Adventist 62,8800.2%20.1%35.5Non-denominational 40,5450.1%26.7%33.0Ukrainian Orthodox 32,7200.1%- 5.1%45.8Aboriginal spirituality 29,8200.1%175.1%25.0Hutterite 26,2950.1%22.3%22.2Methodist 25,7300.1%6.1%43.9Pagan 21,0800.1%281.2%30.4Brethren in Christ 20,5900.1%- 22.0%38.2Serbian Orthodox 20,5200.1%109.5%34.8Top Religious Denominations in Canada20062031% change(in numbers)Number%Number%Total Population32,522,00042,078,000+29.4Christian24,340,00074.827,285,00064.8+12.1- Roman Catholic13,830,00042.515,389,00036.6+11.3- Total Protestant8,970,00027.68,973,00021.3+0.0- Christian Orthodox566,0001.7978,0002.3+72.8- Christian, not included elsewhere974,0003.01,944,0004.6+99.6No Religious Affiliation5,680,00017.58,780,00020.9+54.6Other2,501,0007.76,013,00014.3+140.4- Muslim884,0002.72,870,0006.8+224.7- Jewish348,0001.1421,0001.0+21.0- Buddhist358,0001.1607,0001.4+69.6- Hindu406,0001.21,024,0002.4+152.2- Sikh384,0001.2906,0002.2+135.9- Other122,0000.4185,0000.4+51.6What patterns do we see in Canada?Median age?Growth?Decline?How do these changes relate to immigration patterns?What do you predict 10 years in the future?Data for Waterloo RegionReligion19912001Projected - 2017Buddhists222537004600Hindus282042007000Jews80510003900Muslims3870930021 900Sikhs118526004300Other104514002100Regional Population374 325426 400Approx. 600 000