Religion in Canada

Religion in Canada (2021 census)[1]

  Christianity[a] (53.3%)
  No religion (34.6%)
  Islam (4.9%)
  Hinduism (2.3%)
  Sikhism (2.1%)
  Buddhism (1.0%)
  Judaism (0.9%)
  Indigenous (0.2%)
  Paganism (0.1%)
  Other religions (0.5%)
Population distribution of largest religious affiliation in Canada by largest group by census division, 2021 census

Religion in Canada encompasses a wide range of beliefs and customs that historically has been dominated by Christianity.[2][3] The constitution of Canada refers to 'God', however Canada has no official church and the government is officially committed to religious pluralism.[4] Freedom of religion in Canada is a constitutionally protected right, allowing individuals to assemble and worship without limitation or interference.[5] Rates of religious adherence have steadily decreased since the 1960s.[3] After having once been central and integral to Canadian culture and daily life,[6] Canada has become a post-Christian state.[7][8][9] Although the majority of Canadians consider religion to be unimportant in their daily lives,[10] they still believe in God.[11] The practice of religion is generally considered a private matter throughout society and the state.[12]

Before the European colonization, a wide diversity of Native religions and belief systems of the Indigenous peoples in Canada were largely animistic or shamanistic.[13][14][15][16] The French colonization beginning in the 16th century established a Catholic French population in New France.[17] During the colonial period, the French settled along the shores of the Saint Lawrence River, specifically Latin Church Catholics, including a number of Jesuits dedicated to converting indigenous peoples.[18] These attempts reached a climax in the late 19th and early 20th centuries with forced integration through state-funded boarding schools run by both Catholics and Protestants that attempted to assimilate Indigenous children.[19]

British colonization brought waves of Anglicans and other Protestants to Upper Canada, now Ontario.[20] The settlement of the West brought significant Eastern Orthodox immigrants from Eastern Europe and Mormon and Pentecostal immigrants from the United States.[21] The Jewish, Islamic, Jains, Sikh, Hindu, and Buddhist communities—although small—are as old as the nation itself.[22]

According to the 2021 census, Christianity is the largest religion in Canada, with Catholics representing 29.9 percent of the population having the most adherents. Christians overall representing 53.3 percent of the population,[a] are followed by people reporting irreligion or having no religion at 34.6 percent.[25] Other faiths include Islam (4.9 percent), Hinduism (2.3 percent), Sikhism (2.1 percent), Buddhism (1.0 percent), Judaism (0.9 percent), and Indigenous spirituality (0.2 percent).[26] Canada has the second-largest national Sikh population, behind India.[27][28]

  1. ^ "Religions in Canada—Census 2021". Statistics Canada. October 26, 2022.
  2. ^ Dianne R. Hales; Lara Lauzon (2009). An Invitation to Health. Cengage Learning. p. 440. ISBN 978-0-17-650009-2.
  3. ^ a b Cornelissen, Louis (October 28, 2021). "Religiosity in Canada and its evolution from 1985 to 2019". Statistics Canada.
  4. ^ Moon, Richard (2008). Law and Religious Pluralism in Canada. UBC Press. pp. 1–4. ISBN 978-0-7748-1497-3.
  5. ^ Scott, Jamie S. (2012). The Religions of Canadians. University of Toronto Press. p. 345. ISBN 978-1-4426-0516-9.
  6. ^ Lance W. Roberts (2005). Recent Social Trends in Canada, 1960–2000. McGill-Queen's Press. p. 359. ISBN 978-0-7735-2955-7.
  7. ^ Paul Bramadat; David Seljak (2009). Religion and Ethnicity in Canada. University of Toronto Press. p. 3. ISBN 978-1-4426-1018-7.
  8. ^ Kurt Bowen (2004). Christians in a Secular World: The Canadian Experience. McGill-Queen's Press. p. 174. ISBN 978-0-7735-7194-5.
  9. ^ Derek Gregory; Ron Johnston; Geraldine Pratt; Michael Watts; Sarah Whatmore (2009). The Dictionary of Human Geography. John Wiley & Sons. p. 672. ISBN 978-1-4443-1056-6.
  10. ^ Betty Jane Punnett (2015). International Perspectives on Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management. Routledge. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-317-46745-8.
  11. ^ Dr. David M. Haskell (Wilfrid Laurier University) (2009). Through a Lens Darkly: How the News Media Perceive and Portray Evangelicals. Clements Publishing Group. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-894667-92-0.
  12. ^ Kevin Boyle; Juliet Sheen (2013). Freedom of Religion and Belief: A World Report. University of Essex – Routledge. p. 219. ISBN 978-1-134-72229-7.
  13. ^ Cite error: The named reference Underhill was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference Hultkrantz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Encyclopedia of Native American Religions was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Canadian Encyclopedia 2018 p213 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ McShea, B. (2022). Apostles of Empire: The Jesuits and New France. France Overseas: Studies in Em. Nebraska. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-4962-2908-3. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  18. ^ Findling, John E.; Thackeray, Frank W. (December 9, 2010). What Happened? An Encyclopedia of Events That Changed America Forever [4 volumes]. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO. p. 52. ISBN 978-1-59884-621-8. OCLC 639162714.
  19. ^ Commission de vérité et réconciliation du Canada (January 1, 2016). Canada's Residential Schools: The History, Part 1, Origins to 1939: The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Volume I. McGill-Queen's University Press. pp. 3–7. ISBN 978-0-7735-9818-8.
  20. ^ Choquette, R. (2004). Canada's Religions: An Historical Introduction. Religion and Beliefs Series. University of Ottawa Press. p. 160. ISBN 978-0-7766-1847-0. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  21. ^ "Orthodox Church". The Canadian Encyclopedia. December 16, 2013. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  22. ^ Scott, Jamie S. (2013). The Religions of Canadians. ISBN 978-1-4426-0517-6.
  23. ^ "Religion by visible minority and generation status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". Statistics Canada. October 26, 2022.
  24. ^ "Christianity". The Canadian Encyclopedia. October 27, 2022. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  25. ^ "Religions in Canada—Census 2011". Statistics Canada. May 8, 2013.
  26. ^ "Religion by visible minority and generation status: Canada, provinces and territories, census metropolitan areas and census agglomerations with parts". Statistics Canada. October 26, 2022.
  27. ^ "Sikh Heritage Month Act". laws.justice.gc.ca. January 14, 2020.
  28. ^ "Sikh Community Profile Infographic – English" (PPT). birmingham.gov.uk. Retrieved December 20, 2022.


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