HUME residents are keeping the faith with the city the most religious in Victoria.

Newly released 2016 Census data shows while the number of people reporting “no religion” in Australia has massively increased, Hume remains staunchly religious.

Roxburgh Park/Somerton was the most devout in Victoria with 84 per cent of residents responding as religious, including 36 per cent Catholic and 28 per cent Muslim.

The next most religious areas in the state were Fawkner, 82.3 per cent; Campbellfield/ Coolaroo, 82.1 per cent; Greenvale/Bulla, 81.3 per cent; Meadow Heights, 80.7 per cent; and Craigieburn West, 80.4 per cent.

Dallas has one of the highest concentrations of Muslims in Australia, with about half its residents Islamic.

St Thomas’ Uniting Church Craigieburn Reverend Peter Weeks, a former chairman of the Hume Interfaith Network, said a large religious following was a reflection of multiculturalism.

“People who have migrated to Australia tend to be more religiously inclined than those who have been here for generations,” he said.

“Migrants from the Middle East bring with them Christianity or Islam, Indians bring Sikhism, Hinduism or Buddhism and Pacific Islanders tend to have a strong Christian background.”

Christianity remained the most popular in Hume with 55.2 per cent identifying with the faith, followed by Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam and Sikhism.

Rev Weeks said one of the strengths of having a strong showing of different religious groups was that it promoted inclusion.

“There is a recognition of diversity and openness to learning about other faiths in Hume,” he said.

“What is has created is a harmonious community,” he said.

Islamic Community Milli Gorus Meadow Heights Mosque youth president Talha Bozkurt said he had noticed an increase in the number of young people wanting to practice their faith.

Mr Bozkurt felt it was largely due to youths feeling comfortable to express their beliefs without feeling out of place.

People turn to religion if they searching for a greater purpose in life, a way to deal with difficulty and trauma or spiritual fulfilment, he said.

Hume Mayor Drew Jessop said the municipality was made up of residents from more than 160 countries who brought 25 different faiths and spoke about 140 different languages.

The council has granted 10 permits for places of worship over the past five years.

“The census data confirms that we have never been more culturally, religiously and linguistically diverse than we are today,” Cr Jessop said.

“This diversity contributes to the very fabric of our city through the variety of perspectives, cultural ideas and experiences.”

CENSUS BREAKDOWN FOR HUME

PEOPLE

Residents: 170,194

Male: 49.3%

Female: 50.7%

Median age: 44

Australia citizens: 151,520

Born in Australia: 138,911

ANCESTRY

Australian: 30%

English: 29.8

Irish: 9.9%

Scottish: 8.3%

German: 3.9%

HOUSING

Private dwellings: 82,837

Average people per household: 2.4

Median weekly household income: $1124

Median monthly mortgage repayments: $1300

Median weekly rent: $225

EDUCATION

Preschool: 2630 in attendance

Primary: 13,521

Secondary: 10,812

Technical or further education institution: 3194

University or tertiary institution: 3067