FACTS Sheet 2012-08-27 – Demography of Religion in NZ
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF RELIGIOUS AFFLIATION
IN NEW ZEALAND
 The population of New Zealand is predominantly Christian. In 2006, about
half of the population recorded their religion as Christian: 53% for those born in New
Zealand and 52% for those born overseas.
 Since Multiculturalism was formally accepted as government policy in 1986, New
Zealand has become home to a wider range of religions from throughout the world
such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism, and Islam.
 Hindus are New Zealand’s largest religious minority. In 2006, the Hindu population
numbered approximately 64,000 (1.5% of the population).
 Buddhists are New Zealand’s second largest religious minority, in 2006 accounting
for approximately 52,000 (1.3% of the population).
 Islam is the religion of the third largest minority in New Zealand. New Zealand’s
Muslim population increased from approximately 6,000 in 1991 to 36,000 in 2006.
New Zealand’s Muslim population are largely Indians (about one-third); another onethird are NZ Europeans, Arabs, and Somalis. The remainder are mostly
Persian/Iranians, Bangladeshis, Iraqis, and Pakistanis.
 At the 2006 Census, New Zealand females exceeded males in three religions:
Christianity, Buddhism, and Spiritualism & New Age Religions. The Sex Ratio was 84,
89, and 70 males per 100 females respectively. In the remaining religions, males
exceeded females.
 In keeping with the global process of Secularization, ‘No Religion’ is a visible
observation in New Zealand. It has also increased as a response over time: of the
total NZ population, around one-quarter in 1996 and almost one-third in 2006
claimed ‘No Religion’.
 Although Women tend to claim religious affiliation more than men, the increasing
trend of ‘No Religion’ applies almost equally to both. In 2006, 32% of men and 29%
of women in NZ recorded ‘No Religion’; the corresponding proportions in 1991 were
around 22% and 17% respectively.
 Almost half of those aged 25-34 claimed ‘No Religion’ in 2006. This diminished as
Age increased, with approximately 10% aged 75+ years also claiming ‘No Religion’.
Dr Yaghoob Foroutan, Post Doctoral Fellow, NIDEA
foroutan@waikato.ac.nz
Ph: 07 838 4761