Census figures on religion. (News in Brief: Canada).

Ottawa -- The latest data from the 2001 census on religion are of interest. Catholics and Protestants combined remain the dominant group, representing 72% of the total 2001 population of just over 30 million (down from 80% in 1991). Within this group, Catholics now represent 43% of the population, a decrease of 2% from 1991. Protestants who registered at 35% in 1991 have now declined to 29%.

The census also recorded an increase in people reporting themselves simply as "Christian", without specifying a denomination. This group has more than doubled, to reach 2.6% of the population. Also, 1.6% of Canadians identify themselves as Orthodox Christians of Greek, Ukrainian, Serbian, and Russian communities of that faith. Half of these adherents live in the province of Ontario.

The total of all Christians, therefore, is 72% pus 2.6%, plus 1.6%, which comes to 76.2%. In other words, three out of four Canadians consider themselves Christians.

Those who profess no religion at all now number 16% of all Canadians, that is 4.8 million; this compares with 12% in 1991. Non-religious Canadians are noticeable in Western Canada, especially in British Columbia and Yukon.

Islam is Canada's fastest growing faith among non-Christians, due entirely to immigration. Although their numbers are still small (580,000 or 2% of the population), Muslims now outnumber Jews (330,000 or 1.1%). A further demographic fact which may, or may not, influence future Canadian foreign policy is that the median age of Muslims is 28 years, while that of the Jewish population is 45.

The numbers of Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists have also increased significantly. This is not unexpected in the light of immigration patterns. Immigration has also helped to bolster the Catholics; immigrants from Asia especially from the strongly Catholic Philippines and Goa in India, together with Catholic people from Africa, the Caribbean and South America, have added to the totals in many parishes, particularly in southern Ontario. Without them many churches would be half empty on Sundays as the Anglo-Saxon and European Catholic communities continue to shrink through birth control, abortion, sterilization, and a preference for small families.

The statistics which the Canada 2001 census collected took no account of whether respondents actually practised their faith. The agency's general Social Survey did collect data on attendance at religious services in 2001. For that, see "Church attendance statistics," C.I., May 2003, p.26.

The provinces

Newfoundland/Labrador is the only province with a majority of Protestants (60%) of which the Anglicans are the largest group. In PEI, Catholics account for 47% of the population, the highest proportion among the English-speaking provinces.

In New Brunswick and Quebec, Catholics represent the majority of the population. In NB it is 54% or 386,000 Catholics; in Quebec it is 83% or 5.9 million. Non- religious Quebeckers number 400,000 or 6% of the provincial population.

Ontario is one-third Protestant (35%) and one-third Catholic (34%), each group with approx 3.9 million adherents. Those without religion account for 16% of the population or 1.8 million.

Manitoba is 43% Protestant (475,000 adherents) and 27% Catholic (293,000). In Saskatchewan, Catholies held on to 30% of the population (287,000) and Protestants stand at 47% (449,000).

In Alberta, nearly one quarter (23%) reported no religion (683,000). Protestants account for 39% (1.1 million) of the population, and Catholics stand at 25% (756,000).

British Columbia has the lowest proportion of Catholics among the provinces, namely 667,000 or 17%. Protestants number 1.2 million or 31%. In British Columbia those who claim no religion number 1.4 million or 35%, the highest proportion in Canada.

In Yukon, almost four out of ten in the tiny population reported no religion. In the Northwest Territories, Catholics are the largest group (46% or 16,900) and, in Nunavut, the Anglicans dominate at 60% or 16,000.