Melbourne suburbs with the largest non-religious population
Belgrave has the highest concentration, at 66.5% of residents (2,591 people). Clifton Hill and Carlton North follow. These 15 suburbs came from a field of 319 eligible Melbourne suburbs.
This page ranks Melbourne suburbs by the share of residents who reported having no religion in the 2021 Census — the city's most secular neighbourhoods. Only suburbs with at least 2,000 residents are ranked.
Shares are the count of Melbourne residents who selected "No religion" divided by the suburb's total population, from the ABS 2021 Census religious-affiliation table — the same figures shown on each suburb page. Percentile ranks are computed within Melbourne's pool. Answering the census religion question is voluntary, so the true non-religious share may run higher than reported. This is descriptive demographic information, not a recommendation.
Melbourne suburbs with the largest non-religious population
Ranked by the share of residents who reported having no religion in the 2021 Census, among suburbs with at least 2,000 residents — the most secular parts of the city.
Belgrave
VIC 3160 · 3,894 residents66.5% of residents · 2,591 people
Clifton Hill
VIC 3068 · 6,606 residents65.5% of residents · 4,329 people
Carlton North
VIC 3054 · 6,177 residents64.0% of residents · 3,952 people
Fitzroy North
VIC 3068 · 12,781 residents63.8% of residents · 8,160 people
Cremorne
VIC 3121 · 2,158 residents62.7% of residents · 1,353 people
Brunswick East
VIC 3057 · 13,279 residents62.5% of residents · 8,295 people
Tecoma
VIC 3160 · 2,064 residents62.1% of residents · 1,282 people
North Warrandyte
VIC 3113 · 3,027 residents61.7% of residents · 1,867 people
Upwey
VIC 3158 · 6,818 residents61.6% of residents · 4,200 people
Brunswick
VIC 3056 · 24,896 residents61.2% of residents · 15,244 people
Northcote
VIC 3070 · 25,276 residents61.0% of residents · 15,411 people
Abbotsford
VIC 3067 · 9,088 residents59.6% of residents · 5,417 people
Hurstbridge
VIC 3099 · 3,554 residents59.4% of residents · 2,110 people
Seddon
VIC 3011 · 5,143 residents59.2% of residents · 3,044 people
Collingwood
VIC 3066 · 9,179 residents58.0% of residents · 5,324 people
Ranked from 319 qualifying suburbs.
100% share of residents who reported this religion in the 2021 Census (the religion's count divided by the suburb's total population), percentile-ranked within Melbourne's candidate pool. Only suburbs with at least 2,000 residents qualify, and the larger absolute community breaks ties. This is descriptive ABS Census data — a factual snapshot of where a community lives, not a recommendation. See how we calculate for the full methodology.
Common questions about this ranking
Which Melbourne suburbs have the largest non-religious population?
Belgrave has the highest concentration, at 66.5% of residents (2,591 people). Clifton Hill and Carlton North follow. These 15 suburbs came from a field of 319 eligible Melbourne suburbs. In Melbourne suburbs of 2,000+ residents, 35.5% of people reported having no religion (2021 Census).
How is this ranking put together?
Each Melbourne suburb is ranked by the share of its residents who reported having no religion in the 2021 Census — that group's count divided by the suburb's total population. Only suburbs with at least 2,000 residents are included, and percentile ranks are computed within Melbourne's pool, so the list reflects concentration relative to other metro suburbs.
Where does the data come from?
The Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census, which asks every resident an optional question on religious affiliation. We use the published suburb-level counts — the same figures shown in the religion breakdown on each suburb page. Nothing is estimated or inferred about any individual.
Why would someone use this list?
Religious make-up is part of a suburb's character, and plenty of people are simply curious where a city's most secular pockets are. This is a factual demographic snapshot, not a judgement about any suburb, and not a recommendation to seek out or avoid anywhere.
How current is it?
The figures are from the 2021 Census, the most recent available until results from the August 2026 Census are released in 2027. The top 15 is recomputed whenever we refresh the census data.
Same list in other cities
- Sydney suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Brisbane suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Perth suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Adelaide suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Hobart suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Darwin suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Canberra suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Newcastle suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Central Coast suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Sunshine Coast suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Gold Coast suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Wollongong suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Geelong suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Townsville suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Toowoomba suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Busselton suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Ballarat suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Cairns suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Albany suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Ballina suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Geraldton suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Warragul suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Bundaberg suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Launceston suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Bendigo suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Rockhampton suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Mackay suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Albury – Wodonga suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Camden Haven suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Burnie suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Wagga Wagga suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Coffs Harbour suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Alice Springs suburbs with the largest non-religious population
- Mount Isa suburbs with the largest non-religious population
Related
Rankings last computed 12 October 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.
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