Aaron O'Neill
Research lead for society, economy, and politics: Europe & global
Get in touch with us nowIn 2021, 53.3 percent of the total population in Canada were Christian, 4.9 percent were Muslim, but almost more than a third are not religious at all – with the rest stating they adhere to Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism, the Jewish faith, and other Christian denominations.
Canada’s religious pluralism
Canada is not a very religious country in general. Canadians adhere to a wide variety of beliefs and faiths, with the majority following Christianity, followed by those who do not believe in any deity or religion at all. As with many Western countries, the younger generations are less inclined to identify with faith, and Christianity in particular is not as popular as it is among the older generations.
Alternative worship for the younger generations?
Canadian teenagers are no less enthusiastic about religion than their parents, and they are just as grounded in their faith as the older generations. They are, however, also just as indecisive when it comes to whether they would call themselves religious or not. Interestingly, they seem much more interested in traditional aboriginal spirituality than in the Judeo-Christian model. They also seem quite interested in another alternative to Christianity: Buddhism is quite popular among the younger generations. Whether this signifies a general trend away from Christianity and towards religious alternatives remains to be seen.
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Overview
Changes in the religious landscape
Demographic factors
Social and political attitudes
Religion and the youth
* For commercial use only
Basic Account
Starter Account
Professional Account
1 All prices do not include sales tax. The account requires an annual contract and will renew after one year to the regular list price.