Hinduism in Australia
Hinduism is the third largest religion in Australia consisting of more than 684,002 followers, making up 2.7% of the population as of the 2021 census. Hinduism is the fastest growing religion in Australia mostly through immigration. Hinduism is also one of the most youthful religions in Australia, with 34% and 66% of Hindus being under the age of 14 and 34 respectively.
Hindu Temple in Melbourne. | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 684,002 (2021) 2.7% of the Australian population | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Languages | |
| English, Tamil, Fiji Hindi, Nepali, Mauritian Creole, Indian languages | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Indian Australians |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1911 | 414 | — |
| 1933 | 212 | −3.00% |
| 1986 | 21,500 | +9.11% |
| 1991 | 43,580 | +15.18% |
| 1996 | 67,270 | +9.07% |
| 2001 | 95,473 | +7.25% |
| 2006 | 148,123 | +9.18% |
| 2011 | 275,534 | +13.22% |
| 2016 | 440,300 | +9.83% |
| 2021 | 684,002 | +9.21% |
| Hinduism by country |
|---|
| Full list |
In the nineteenth century, the British first brought Hindus from India to Australia to work on cotton and sugar plantations. Many remained as small businessmen, working as camel drivers, merchants and hawkers, selling goods between small rural communities. Today, many Hindus are well educated professionals in fields such as medicine, engineering, commerce and information technology, constituting a model minority. The Hindus in Australia are mostly of Indian origin; other origins include those from Sri Lanka, Fiji, Malaysia, Bali, Cham, Singapore, and Nepal.