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Religious Services in Australia - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Andrew Ledovskikh Andrew Ledovskikh Melbourne, Australia Last Updated: August 2023 ANZSIC S9540

Revenue

$3.9bn

2023-24

$3.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

35,900

Businesses

168

Wages

$X.Xbn

Religious Services in Australia industry analysis

Australia has become an increasingly secular nation over the past five years. This trend has posed challenges to the Religious Services industry. This trend has continued, despite high immigration rates from regions with strong religious adherence aside from 2020-21 which was a full year of international border closures. Overall, the decline in adherence to most traditional Christian faiths is outstripping growth in adherence to most non-Christian religions. As a result, revenue generated by religious groups is expected to decline at an annualised 5.1% over the five years through 2023-24, to $3.9 billion, with margins declining to 8.6%.Cost-living-pressures have weighed on religious donations over the three years through 2023-24. Rising interest rates, inflation and rental costs have put many consumers under financial strain limiting their ability to contribute to their religious organisation. Declines have been mostly seen among lower- and middle-income earners who are struggling to cover rental costs and service their mortgages. Higher income earners are more insulated against changing economic conditions and have largely sustained their donation spending. As these higher income earners account for almost 70% of donations, industry revenue has been protected from steeper declines. These trends are expected to contribute to a 1.2% decline in industry revenue in the current year.Despite the nation becoming increasingly secular, forecast growth in household discretionary income, strong growth in net migration, and positive consumer sentiment are projected to boost donations to religious organisations over the next five years. However, falling adherence and attendance at religious services are anticipated to limit revenue growth. Overall, industry revenue is forecast to increase at an annualised 1.6% over the five years through 2028-29, to reach $4.2 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • The number of Christian religious observers has declined rapidly over the past five years. Non-Christian religions are experiencing growth driven by migration patterns.
  • Lower- and middle-income earners have seen the steepest falls in religious donations. Higher income earners have been better insulated from the effects of rising cost-of-living pressures, allowing them to maintain donation rates.
  • Rising migration to eastern states is increasing the number of establishments catering to Asian religions. There are rapidly growing Hindu and Buddhist communities in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland, encouraging the establishment of new industry establishments.
  • Adherence to Christianity in Australia is declining rapidly as migration drives growth in non-Christian religions. Christianity has long represented either a majority or plurality of religious adherents, but that is projected to end over the next five years.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 5.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.9bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

Australia is becoming increasingly secular

  • Younger generations in Australia are far less likely to characterise themselves as religious than older generations. This trend is reducing the generational replacement rate that has traditionally maintained faiths' congregations and funds.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Religious Services in Australia
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Rise in non-Christian adherents is set to support revenue and establishment growth

  • The rising participation in non-Christian religions, driven by migration, is expected to drive growth in establishment numbers after a decade of declines.

Biggest companies in the Religious Services in Australia

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Catholic Church
3.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Religious Services in Australia
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Catholic services, Anglican Church services and Other Christian services. Catholic services is the largest segment of the Religious Services in Australia.

Trends and Insights

Fall in share of population identifying as Catholic has weighed on donations

  • The decline in the number of people identifying as Catholic has been one of the highest, behind only the Anglican denomination. As a result, Catholic services have declined as a share of industry revenue.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry consists of religious organisations operated for religious worship or for the promotion of religious activities. The industry includes churches, temples and monasteries. It also includes organisations primarily engaged in administering an organised religion.

What's included in this industry?

Bible society operation Church operationConvent operationDiocesan registry operationMissionary operationMonastery operationMosque operationReligious organisation operationReligious shrine and temple operationSynagogue operation

Companies

Catholic Church

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Related Terms

ATTENDANCEADHERENCEBEQUEST

Industry Code

ANZSIC 2006

ANZSIC 9540 - Religious Services in Australia

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The number of Christian religious observers has declined rapidly over the past five years. Non-Christian religions are experiencing growth driven by migration patterns.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Lower- and middle-income earners have seen the steepest falls in religious donations. Higher income earners have been better insulated from the effects of rising cost-of-livi...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Rising migration to eastern states is increasing the number of establishments catering to Asian religions. There are rapidly growing Hindu and Buddhist communities in New Sou...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Adherence to Christianity in Australia is declining rapidly as migration drives growth in non-Christian religions. Christianity has long represented either a majority or plur...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2018-2023
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Individual churches have relatively opaque funding connections between themselves and organising committees. Establishments generally cover their own maintenance and living e...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of Catholic Church's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Catholic Church, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital technologies by religious establishments. Many industry establishments were forced to adopt digital communications p...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Cost-of-living pressures have contributed to strong drops in religious donations, and subsequently lower margins. Lower- and middle-income owners have struggled to absorb ris...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Religious Services industry in Australia in 2024?

The market size of the Religious Services industry in Australia is $3.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Religious Services in Australia industry in 2023?

There are 168 businesses in the Religious Services industry in Australia, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Religious Services industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Religious Services industry in Australia has been declining at a CAGR of 5.1 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Religious Services industry in Australia over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Religious Services industry in Australia is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Religious Services market in Australia?

The biggest company operating in the Religious Services market in Australia is Catholic Church

What does the Religious Services in Australia include?

Bible society operation and Church operation are part of the Religious Services industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Religious Services in Australia?

The company holding the most market share in Australia is Catholic Church.

How competitive is the Religious Services industry in Australia?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Religious Services industry in Australia.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • There are no industries to display.

Complementors

  • Education and Training in Australia
  • Crisis and Care Accommodation in Australia
  • Personal Welfare Services in Australia
  • Private Schools in Australia
  • Aged Care Residential Services in Australia
  • Public General Hospitals in Australia

International industries

  • Religious Organizations in the US
  • Charities in the UK

View all industries in Australia

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Australia include:

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics
  • Australian Taxation Office
  • Australian Securities & Investments Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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