Religion in Montreal: Predominantly Catholic, Increasingly Diverse

Montreal, Quebec's largest city, has a religious landscape shaped by its French Catholic roots and successive waves of immigration.

Major Affiliations (2021 Census, Montreal CMA)

• Christian: ~58–60%
  • Roman Catholic: ~50–52% (cultural + practicing; historically dominant)
  • Protestant: ~4–5% (Anglican, United, Baptist, Pentecostal, etc.)
  • Orthodox: ~2–3% (Greek, Russian, Romanian, Antiochian)
  • Other Christian: ~1%
• No Religion / Secular: ~30–32% (fastest growing; "nones")
• Jewish: ~2.5% (~90,000) – 2nd largest Jewish population in Canada (after Toronto)
• Muslim: ~6–7% (~200,000+) – rapid growth; diverse origins (North Africa, South Asia, Middle East, converts)
• Hindu: ~1.5%
• Buddhist: ~1.5%
• Sikh: ~0.5%
• Other / Indigenous Spirituality: <1%

Key Trends

• Secularization: Catholic identification dropped from >80% (1971) to ~50% (2021); weekly attendance <15%.
• Immigration-Driven Diversity: 34% of Montrealers are immigrants; they bring global faiths.
• Interfaith: Montreal Interfaith Dialogue, shared spaces (e.g., Maison des Religions).
• Legal Framework: Quebec's Bill 21 (2019) bans religious symbols for some public employees—controversial.

Landmarks

• Notre-Dame Basilica (Catholic, Gothic Revival, Old Montreal)
• St. Joseph's Oratory (largest church in Canada)
• Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue (oldest Jewish congregation, 1768)
• Jami' Mosque (first purpose-built mosque, 1950s)
• Hindu Mandir, Buddhist temples, Gurdwaras across metro.

Montreal remains culturally Catholic but is now a pluralistic, secular-majority metropolis.