More Bermuda residents are opting out of religion, according to the latest census. And a number of churches are suffering a decline in membership. Since the 1991 census, seven religious denominations have seen a drop in the number of people claiming affiliation. But there has been a 44 percent surge in the numbers of people declaring they have no religious affiliation. Fourteen percent (8,560 people) of all Bermuda residents fall into that category, up from ten percent in 1991, while another one percent would not even answer the question.

The Anglican church remains the most popular but its share of the population has dropped from 28 percent in 1991 to 23 percent or 14,011.

In second place are the Roman Catholics, which has 9,275 adherents, up from 8,712 but retaining a 15 percent share.

Seventh Day Adventists now number 4,042, a ten percent surge, and comprise seven percent of the population, as compared to six percent in 1991.

African Methodist Episcopal adherents (6,803) dropped three percent and lost a one percentage point share of the population but remains the third most popular denomination at 11 percent. The census also reported for the first time the number of people saying they were of a "non-denominational" faith.

At 3,988 they represent six percent of the population or a six percent share, the same as those in the "other" category which includes Muslim, Jewish, Lutheran, Ethiopian Orthodox, Bah'ai and Rastafarian.

According to the census report there are 324 Rastafarians, 13 of whom are white. Sixteen of the total are non Bermudian of whom six are white. And among the 308 Bermudian Rastafarians seven are white.