A survey commissioned by the Census – Not Religious? Mark No Religion campaign has examined how census question formatting affects responses about religious affiliation in Australia. The poll tested two approaches: the existing format used since the 2021 census, which presents a list of religious options alongside “no religion,” and an alternative yes/no format that asks respondents directly whether they have a religion before requesting details.
Under the current list format, 43% of survey respondents selected “no religion,” compared to 39% in the 2021 census. However, when presented with the alternative yes/no approach, 54% of respondents indicated they have no religion—a difference that campaign organizers suggest represents approximately 2 million additional adults without religious affiliation. The campaign argues that the existing question format overstates Australia’s religiousness and undercounts those without religion.
Michael Dove, a spokesperson for the campaign, characterized the census as essential data for informing policy and funding decisions. He stated that the Australian Bureau of Statistics should provide accurate information to support these important determinations. The campaign has highlighted various surveys showing higher percentages of non-religious Australians than the official census figures.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics acknowledged receiving feedback after the 2021 census that the question wording assumes respondents have a religion. However, the bureau declined to modify the question, citing concerns that changes would compromise data comparability with previous censuses. For the 2026 census on 11 August, the ABS has implemented alternative improvements including additional instructions, updated examples, reordered categories reflecting the most common religious groups, and enhanced data processing methods.
Dove indicated the campaign has redirected its focus toward the 2031 census following the ABS decision. Religious affiliation patterns in the survey showed lower rates among younger adults aged 18-34 and higher rates among those with university education. Historical data demonstrates a steady decline in Christianity over 50 years, though it remained the most common religion at the last census.
Article Attribution | Read More at Article Source
Article summary produced by Claude AI