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1 Secularism and a pursuit of leisure, pleasure and wealth characterize Australia
2 Church attendance declined steadily
from 35% in 1966 to 12% in 1990
3 Evangelicals are strong in the Sydney Anglican diocese and a growing minority in the Melbourne diocese (30%)
4 Although some Australian churches have
a good mission focus, there is a general lack of
missions vision
5 Less reached peoples
are found both among the indigenous Aborigines, the many post-war migrants and
the 6.5 million of non-British origin
a) Aboriginal tribes
b) Many people in working-class urban areas
and in isolated mining and farming communities
c) Muslims–around 255,000 from over
70 countries
d) Chinese–A high proportion of immigrants from SE Asia are ethnic Chinese and they may total as much as 450,000
e) Vietnamese–possibly 150,000,
mostly refugees over the past 25 years and their offspring
f) The diverse peoples from the former Yugoslavia
g) Jews number 85,000; half live in Melbourne
h) Southern Europeans
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Area 7,682,300 sq.km. This island continent is largely grassland and desert in the interior but better watered in the east, southeast and southwest coastal regions, where most live in highly concentrated urban areas. There are three permanently inhabited dependent territories; Norfolk Is. (35 sq.km.; 2,500 pop), Christmas Is. (135 sq.km.; 2,300 pop), Cocos Is. (14 sq.km.; 600 pop).
Population (2000) 18,879,524 +1.03%AGR
Capital Canberra 328,370.
Anglo-Celtic 67.8%; Other European 20%; Asian 6%; Middle Eastern 3.0%; Australian Aborigine 2%; Other 1.2%.
Literacy 99%. Official language English. Over 19% of the population do not use English as their first language. All indigenous languages 234. Languages with Scriptures 1Bi 8NT 26por 19 w.i.p.
Mixed economy based on industry, agriculture and mining.
HDI 0.922; 7th/174. Public debt 23% of GNP. Income/person $20,090 (66% of USA).
A federal, parliamentary democracy formed in 1901 with 6 states and 2 federal territories.
A secular state with freedom of religion.
| Religions |
Population % |
Adherents |
Ann.Gr. |
| Christian |
67.50 |
12,743,679 |
+0.0% |
| non-Religious/other |
28.21 |
5,325,914 |
+3.1% |
| Buddhist |
1.40 |
264,313 |
+6.6% |
| Muslim |
1.33 |
251,098 |
+5.2% |
| Hindu |
0.47 |
88,734 |
+6.5% |
| Jewish |
0.45 |
84,958 |
+1.0% |
| Chinese |
0.26 |
49,087 |
+1.0% |
| Traditional ethnic |
0.25 |
47,199 |
+71.6% |
| Sikh |
0.08 |
15,104 |
+4.5% |
| Baha'i |
0.05 |
9,440 |
+6.8% |
| Christians |
Denom. |
Affil.% |
,000 |
Ann.Gr. |
| Protestant |
155 |
12.83 |
2,423 |
+0.0% |
| Independent |
28 |
1.06 |
199 |
+10.1% |
| Anglican |
1 |
20.23 |
3,820 |
-0.6% |
| Catholic |
1 |
25.21 |
4,760 |
-0.2% |
| Orthodox |
35 |
3.20 |
605 |
+1.8% |
| Marginal |
56 |
1.30 |
245 |
+0.5% |
| Unaffiliated |
|
14.88 |
2,809 |
n.a. |
| Doubly affiliated |
|
-11.21 |
-2,100 |
n.a. |
Churches in Australia
Missionaries from Australia
4,388 in 97 agencies and in 134 countries
Missionaries to Australia
3,277 in 109 agencies
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Challenges for Prayer 
Geography 
Peoples 
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Religion