Exponential Australia Church Planting

Australian Research

Insights into Church Planting in Australia (July 2025)

This report presents current data on church planting across Australia. Findings from Exponential Australia’s New Churches Database show a 22 percent rise in new church plants in the year to June 2025, with denominational data indicating a similar 21 percent increase.

While church planting remains modest compared to overall need, the growth reflects increasing momentum across denominations nationwide.

Click on the links below for the full report and supporting infographic.

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Other Research

This infographic outlines the urgent need for a shift in the Australian church’s approach to mission and growth, highlighting a crisis marked by spiritual, cultural, and theological challenges. 
 
In response to statistics showing church decline and the urgent need to reach the 84% of Australians not connected to a church, Exponential Australia advocates for a movement of church planting multiplication – aiming to see 1,000 new churches planted annually by 2032.
 
The infographic promotes five paradigm shifts, including moving from church growth to multiplication and forming disciples who make disciples, as essential strategies to renew the church and better reach the Australian population.
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Church Planting growth in Australia

Church Growth, Decline, Planting and Multiplication in Australia

Results from the 2016 National Church Life Survey and NCLS Research Estimates Project. A Report prepared for Exponential Australia, by NCLS Research (Sam Sterland, July 2021).

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Geneva Push

In 2016 Geneva Push published research in relation to church planting in Australia. The research conducted by Lifeway Research provides some interesting insights into factors that are key to the success of church plants in Australia.

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City Infield, an initiative of social research agency McCrindle, launched new research exploring the future of the Church in Australia. The research seeks to understand the soul of Australia in 2020, pinpoint where spiritual growth is occurring and reveal key trends that will shape the church of the future.

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McCrindle Research regularly prepare excellent research in relation to faith in Australia. The following link will take you to a blog on and their report into Faith and Belief in Australia.

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NCLS have produced a paper that uses 2011 and 2006 NCLS data to explore whether newer churches or ‘church plants’ differ from older churches in terms of health and vitality.

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