2021
The 5th National Count of Attendance at Mass and Sunday Assemblies was conducted in May 2021. The 2021 count was conducted in all parishes and other Mass centres, such as migrant community centres, throughout Australia. It included other types of Sunday Assemblies, and involved people of all ages at Mass (including babies).
In 2021, parishes were also asked to provide estimates of the age and sex of those who attend Mass and Sunday assemblies. As well, in light of ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in some areas, parishes were invited to provide the number of ‘views’ of Masses or Sunday assemblies streamed online.
The final report based on the findings from the 2021 count, together with relevant information from the 2021 Census, is now available. The report provides a detailed view of the demographic characteristics and attendance patterns of Mass attenders in 2021 and earlier years. The significance of conducting the count in 2021, despite the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, cannot be understated. The information in this report not only provides a picture of Mass attendance during a significant point in history, but also provides valuable data for tracking attendance trends in the future.
The Australian Catholic Mass Attendance Report – A report based on the National Count of Attendance and the National Catholic Census Project – Trudy Dantis, Stephen Reid, Leith Dudfield and Katherine Jelavic
A document providing background information on the 2021 count is available at this link: National Count of Attendance 2021 – Background information
2016
The 4th National Count of Attendance was conducted in May 2016. The count is conducted in the same year as the Australian Census and the National Church Life Survey so that information collected can most effectively be used in association with results from the two larger projects. A final report based on the findings from these projects is now available. The report provides a detailed review of the demographics of Mass attenders, as well as changes in attendance patterns over the last two decades.
The Australian Catholic Mass Attendance Report 2016 – A report based on the National Count of Attendance, the National Church Life Survey and the National Catholic Census Project – Trudy Dantis, Stephen Reid and Marilyn Chee.
2011
The 3rd National Count of Attendance was conducted in May 2011. Click on the link below to view the final report.
2006
The 2nd National Count of Attendance was conducted in all parishes and other Mass centres throughout Australia in May 2006. Click on the link below to view the final report.
Final Report for National Count of Attendance 2006.
2001
The first National Count of Attendance was conducted in May 2001, and showed that approximately 765,000 Catholics, of all ages, attended Mass on a typical weekend. This figure represented about 15.3% of the Australian Catholic population.