Census figures reveal that 8782  [22 per cent of the population] people in the City of Orange said they did not have any religious affiliation in the 2016 census.

That was up from 5520 [14.15 per cent] in the 2011 census.

The census figures also show the changing face of religion in the area.

While Orange has about 150 more Hindus [now 271], 15 more Buddhists [235] and two more Islamic people [148] it has about 1000 less Anglicans [8276] , 200 less Catholics [12,060] and 500 less members of the Uniting Church [2581].

One area of increase was people listing as Other Protestant which rose from 184 in 2011 to 414 in 2016.

Over all Christian religions there were 1543 less people in 2016 in Orange compared to five years earlier.

The figures also show that women continue to dominate congregations and religious affinity.

In 2016 14,925 women said they had a religious affiliation in Orange compared to 13,159 men.

World Religion Day was celebrated on Sunday.

Census figures released as part of the celebrations showed religious affiliation was higher in Orange than the national average.

Just 61 per cent of all Australians said they had a religious affiliation compared to 78 per cent in Orange.

A statement said Christianity was still the dominant religion with 12 million people, 86 per cent of religious Australians.

“There was roughly a 7 per cent drop in the number of Christians since 2011,” it said.

About 43 per cent said they were Catholic compared to 25 per cent Anglican.

“The most prominent non-Christian religions were Islam [600,000], Buddhism [560,000], Hinduism [440,000], Sikhism [130,000] and Judaism [90,000].

Sikhism was listed as the fastest growing religion across Australia with a 74 per cent increase.

However, few have moved to Orange with just 62 listed in the 2016 census.

It was not listed as a separate religion in the 2011 census results for Orange.

The religions with the youngest median age [27 years] were Islam and Aboriginal traditional beliefs.