Tim Daniels

(ZENIT News / Ottawa, 30.10.2022).- Last October 26, Canada’s Statistical Office published the results of the 2021 population census. In regard to Canadians’ religion, the census showed in the specific case of Catholics that they have decreased by two million over the last 10 years. The Catholic Church in Canada went from 12.8 million faithful in 2011 to 10.9 million in 2021. At present, Catholics in Canada represent 29.9% of the total population. In other words, only 3 out of 10 Canadians are Catholics.

The number of those that identified as Christians also decreased. Whereas in 2011 67.3% of the population declared themselves Christians, in 2021 only 53.3% did so, namely, 119.3 million people.

The data notwithstanding, Catholicism continues to be in the majority in almost all the provinces, except Nunavut, which is of Anglican majority. Quebec continues to be Catholic in the majority, although there has been a decline: from 74.7% in 2011 to 53.8% in 2021. 

In regard to religious practice, the census shows that it has also declined: only 20% of Canadians attend religious activities once a month (2019 data) as opposed to 40% that did so in 1985. 

At present 34.6 % of the population has no religious affiliation. 12.1% of Canada’s population is not Christian. 5% of Canadians are Muslims, which means they have doubled since 2011. In addition, 2.3% of the population are Hindus  and 2.1% are Sikhs. Jews just number 335,000, which also implies a decrease. 

Finally, the Government’s statistics show that hatred against Catholics increased by more than 260% between 2020 and 2021. 

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