Newcastle suburbs with the largest non-religious population
Islington has the highest concentration, at 63.7% of residents (1,291 people). Cooks Hill and Carrington follow. These 15 suburbs came from a field of 83 eligible Newcastle suburbs.
This page ranks Newcastle 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 Newcastle 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 Newcastle'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.
Newcastle 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.
Islington
NSW 2296 · 2,026 residents63.7% of residents · 1,291 people
Cooks Hill
NSW 2300 · 3,774 residents57.0% of residents · 2,152 people
Carrington
NSW 2294 · 2,061 residents56.5% of residents · 1,165 people
The Hill
NSW 2300 · 2,076 residents55.5% of residents · 1,153 people
Cliftleigh
NSW 2321 · 2,309 residents51.8% of residents · 1,195 people
Dudley
NSW 2290 · 2,505 residents51.3% of residents · 1,285 people
Hamilton
NSW 2303 · 4,614 residents50.5% of residents · 2,332 people
Kahibah
NSW 2290 · 2,603 residents50.2% of residents · 1,307 people
Newcastle
NSW 2300 · 3,852 residents49.3% of residents · 1,899 people
Georgetown
NSW 2298 · 2,072 residents48.6% of residents · 1,008 people
Mayfield
NSW 2304 · 9,760 residents48.6% of residents · 4,747 people
Gateshead
NSW 2290 · 3,121 residents48.4% of residents · 1,510 people
Adamstown
NSW 2289 · 6,335 residents47.1% of residents · 2,982 people
Kotara
NSW 2289 · 3,980 residents47.0% of residents · 1,870 people
Rankin Park
NSW 2287 · 2,547 residents46.9% of residents · 1,195 people
Ranked from 83 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 Newcastle'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 Newcastle suburbs have the largest non-religious population?
Islington has the highest concentration, at 63.7% of residents (1,291 people). Cooks Hill and Carrington follow. These 15 suburbs came from a field of 83 eligible Newcastle suburbs. In Newcastle suburbs of 2,000+ residents, 42.2% of people reported having no religion (2021 Census).
How is this ranking put together?
Each Newcastle 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 Newcastle'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
- Melbourne 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
- 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 28 September 2026. Recomputed after each ACARA schools data refresh.
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