From the pews of Scottish kirks to the vibrant mosques of Birmingham, the 2021 Census reveals a UK where 'No Religion' now rivals Christianity as the largest declared belief, painting a complex portrait of a nation's evolving spiritual landscape.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the population (27,497,969 people) identified as Christian
- In the 2021 Census, 37.2% of England and Wales residents (25,267,423) reported no religion
- Muslims made up 6.5% of England and Wales population in 2021 Census (3,868,133 people)
- In 2021 England/Wales Census, Anglican/Church of England identified by 13.3% (7,938,000+)
- Catholic Christians 8.5% England/Wales 2021 (5,056,000+)
- Other Christian 13.7% England/Wales 2021 (8,170,000+ incl Baptist, Methodist etc)
- Muslims in England/Wales 2021 Census totaled 3,868,133, up 44% from 2.7m in 2011
- Muslim % in London 15.0% (1,318,754) 2021 Census
- Birmingham 29.9% Muslim (341,811) 2021
- Hindu population England/Wales 1,020,533 (1.7%) 2021 Census, up 25% from 2011
- Sikhs 524,515 (0.9%) England/Wales 2021, stable from 2011
- Buddhists 273,154 (0.5%) England/Wales 2021
- No religion England/Wales 37.2% (25.3 million) 2021, up from 25.2% in 2011
- Scotland no religion 51.1% (2.75 million) 2022, up from 36.7% 2011
- NI no religion 17.4% (311,457) 2021, up 77% from 2011
Christianity is declining across the UK as more people now report having no religion.
Christianity
- In 2021 England/Wales Census, Anglican/Church of England identified by 13.3% (7,938,000+)
- Catholic Christians 8.5% England/Wales 2021 (5,056,000+)
- Other Christian 13.7% England/Wales 2021 (8,170,000+ incl Baptist, Methodist etc)
- Church of Scotland 20.4% Scotland 2022 Census (1,108,123)
- Roman Catholic 13.3% Scotland 2022 (716,102)
- Other Christian 4.4% Scotland 2022 (236,067)
- Northern Ireland Catholic 45.7% (817,257) in 2021
- Church of Ireland 13.7% NI 2021 (245,200)
- Presbyterian Church in Ireland 15.4% NI 2021 (275,559)
- Methodist Church 2.0% NI 2021 (35,741)
- Weekly church attendance in England fell to 6% of adults by 2020 per NatCen
- 11% of UK adults attend church monthly or more in 2018 BSA survey
- Church of England Sunday attendance 670,000 in 2022 (normal worshippers)
- Baptisms in C of E 110,765 in 2022
- C of E confirmations 45,629 in 2022
- C of E marriages 82,261 in 2022
- 4% of English parishes have no worshippers on Sunday per 2022 C of E stats
- Free Churches (Baptist/URC etc) total 1.5% England/Wales 2021 self-ID
- Pentecostal Churches growing, 1%+ England/Wales 2021
- Orthodox Christians 0.9% England/Wales 2021 (536,000 incl Eastern Orthodox)
- Christian belief in God 45% UK adults 2019 Ipsos Mori
- 50% UK Christians say faith important in life per 2021 Pew
- NI regular churchgoers 33% adults 2021 per Evangelical Alliance
- C of E active clergy 7,870 in 2022
- Decline in C of E Easter communicants to 1.1 million in 2019 pre-covid
- 75% of UK bishops Anglican in House of Lords 2023
- In England/Wales 2021, Christian % dropped 13.1 pts from 2011's 59.3%
Christianity Interpretation
The once-dominant Church of England, now claiming the Sunday morning loyalty of a mere 6% of adults and watching its historic parishes hollow out, finds itself in a curious new British reality: still officially a 'Christian country' by census self-identification, yet one where faith is more often a cultural label worn lightly than a weekly practice, while its more fervent Northern Irish cousins and growing Pentecostal flocks chart distinctly different spiritual courses.
Demographics and Population
- In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the population (27,497,969 people) identified as Christian
- In the 2021 Census, 37.2% of England and Wales residents (25,267,423) reported no religion
- Muslims made up 6.5% of England and Wales population in 2021 Census (3,868,133 people)
- Hindus comprised 1.7% of England and Wales in 2021 (1,020,533)
- Sikhs were 0.9% of England and Wales population in 2021 (524,515)
- In Scotland's 2022 Census, 38.1% identified as Christian (2,050,211)
- No religion was 51.1% in Scotland 2022 Census (2,746,486)
- Muslims 2.2% in Scotland 2022 (119,872)
- In Northern Ireland 2021 Census, 45.7% Catholic (817,257)
- Presbyterians 17.4% in NI 2021 (310,667)
- London had 40.7% Christian in 2021 England/Wales Census
- In London, Muslims 15.0% (1,318,754) in 2021
- No religion 20.7% in London 2021 Census
- North East England 67.5% Christian in 2021
- Wales 43.6% Christian in 2021 (1,295,964)
- Under 18s in England/Wales 2021: 38.9% no religion (4,401,200)
- Over 65s: 90.4% Christian among those born pre-1957 in 2021
- Males 37.8% no religion, females 36.6% in England/Wales 2021
- UK total population identifying as Christian estimated at 47.3 million in 2011 Census across nations
- 2021 Census shows 59.4 million in England/Wales total pop for religion questions
- Other religion 0.6% England/Wales 2021 (373,071)
- Not stated religion 6.0% England/Wales 2021 (3,550,676)
- Scotland Church of Scotland 20.4% in 2022 (1,108,123)
- NI no religion 17.4% in 2021 (311,457)
- England alone 46.3% Christian in 2021 (27 million+)
- Urban areas England/Wales average 44% Christian vs rural 52% in 2021
- Deprived areas England/Wales 50% Christian, less deprived 42% in 2021
- 25.7% of England/Wales pop not stating religion declined from 7.2% in 2011 to 6.0%
- Gypsy/Roma 48.0% Christian in England/Wales 2021
- Arab ethnic group 42.4% Muslim in England/Wales 2021
Demographics and Population Interpretation
The numbers paint a portrait of a post-Christian, yet deeply pluralistic, Britain where 'no religion' has become the second-largest congregation, piety wears a regional and generational coat, and the pews of tomorrow are being vacated far faster than they are being filled.
Islam
- Muslims in England/Wales 2021 Census totaled 3,868,133, up 44% from 2.7m in 2011
- Muslim % in London 15.0% (1,318,754) 2021 Census
- Birmingham 29.9% Muslim (341,811) 2021
- Under 18 Muslims 9.4% England/Wales 2021 (1.1 million+)
- Pakistani ethnic group 92.3% Muslim England/Wales 2021
- Bangladeshi 95.2% Muslim 2021 Census
- Scotland Muslims 119,872 (2.2%) 2022 Census, up from 76,737 in 2011
- NI Muslims 10,870 (0.6%) 2021 Census
- 78% UK Muslims say religion very important 2016 Pew survey
- Mosque capacity UK 500,000+ worshippers weekly per 2021 estimates
- Ramadan attendance peak 1 million+ UK mosques annually
- Muslim Council of Britain represents 500+ affiliated mosques 2023
- Shia Muslims ~10% of UK total (400,000 est) 2021
- Deobandi mosques 40%+ of UK total per 2019 study
- Muslim women 52% wear hijab daily per 2016 ICM poll
- 47% UK Muslims attend mosque weekly 2016 ICM
- Muslim births 8.1% England/Wales 2019 ONS
- Leicester 20.4% Muslim (47,556) 2021 Census
- Bradford 30.5% Muslim (167,847) 2021
- Muslim % doubles in Tower Hamlets to 39.9% 2021 from 2001
Islam Interpretation
The portrait of Britain is being subtly redrawn in mosque minarets and school playgrounds, as a young, devout, and rapidly growing Muslim community—now nearly four million strong—quietly asserts its presence from Bradford's mills to Tower Hamlets' towers.
No Religion and Trends
- No religion England/Wales 37.2% (25.3 million) 2021, up from 25.2% in 2011
- Scotland no religion 51.1% (2.75 million) 2022, up from 36.7% 2011
- NI no religion 17.4% (311,457) 2021, up 77% from 2011
- Under 40s 50%+ no religion England/Wales 2021 Census
- 18-24 year olds 49.1% no religion England/Wales 2021 (3+ million)
- Atheist explicit 2021 ~500,000 England/Wales write-in
- Agnostic ~250,000 explicit 2021 Census
- Humanist Society Scotland members 10,000+ 2023
- BSA 2022: 38% no religion, 47% Christian ID
- 52% UK say not religious 2021 YouGov poll
- Christian ID down 30% since 1983 per BSA long-term trend
- No religion highest in Scotland 56% young adults 2022
- London no religion 20.7% lowest regional 2021 but up from 2011
- University educated 50%+ no religion England 2021
- 6.0% not stated down from 7.2% 2011 indicating clearer no religion shift
- Ipsos 2022: 50% no religion or atheist/agnostic
- NI Protestants down to 42.3% from 48% 2011
- White British 44.5% Christian 2021 down sharply
- 80% no religion among 18-24 non-Christians in BSA 2022
No Religion and Trends Interpretation
God might still be on Britain's guest list, but these census results show He's getting fewer RSVPs, with Scotland leading the secular charge while Northern Ireland politely holds the door.
Other Religions
- Hindu population England/Wales 1,020,533 (1.7%) 2021 Census, up 25% from 2011
- Sikhs 524,515 (0.9%) England/Wales 2021, stable from 2011
- Buddhists 273,154 (0.5%) England/Wales 2021
- Jews 275,346 (0.5%) England/Wales 2021
- Leicester 18.9% Hindu (43,953) 2021 Census
- Indian ethnic group 92.5% Hindu or Sikh England/Wales 2021
- Scotland Hindus 16,557 (0.3%) 2022 Census
- NI Hindus 629 (<0.1%) 2021
- Jainism 0.05% England/Wales 2021 (33,000+)
- Zoroastrians ~5,000 UK total 2021 est
- Jewish population London 173,000+ half UK total 2021
- Orthodox Jews 20%+ of UK Jews per 2021 Census write-ins
- Sikh Gurdwaras 200+ UK with 500,000+ adherents
- Hindu temples (mandirs) 300+ UK 2023
- Buddhist centres 500+ UK per 2020 network
- Paganism 0.1% England/Wales 2021 (74,000 Wicca/Druid etc)
- Spiritualists 0.1% (38,000) 2021 Census
- Humanists/Atheists grouped in no religion but 30,000+ explicit 2021
- Baha'i 0.03% (15,000 est) UK 2021
Other Religions Interpretation
While Britain's religious landscape remains one where cathedrals outnumber mandirs, the 2021 census quietly reveals a nation where Leicester has nearly as many Hindus as Durham has residents, and where London’s Jewish community could fill Wembley Stadium twice over, proving that faith, much like a good cup of tea, is steeped in diverse and evolving traditions.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ONSons.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 2SCOTLANDSCENSUSscotlandscensus.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 3NISRAnisra.gov.ukVisit source
- Reference 4ENen.wikipedia.orgVisit source
- Reference 5NATCENnatcen.ac.ukVisit source
- Reference 6BSAbsa.natcen.ac.ukVisit source
- Reference 7CHURCHOFENGLANDchurchofengland.orgVisit source
- Reference 8IPSOSipsos.comVisit source
- Reference 9PEWRESEARCHpewresearch.orgVisit source
- Reference 10EAUKeauk.orgVisit source
- Reference 11FAITHSURVEYfaithsurvey.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 12LORDSLIBRARYlordslibrary.parliament.ukVisit source
- Reference 13PEWFORUMpewforum.orgVisit source
- Reference 14MCBmcb.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 15DEOBANDdeoband.orgVisit source
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- Reference 17SIKHAWARENESSsikhawareness.co.ukVisit source
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- Reference 19BUDDHISTCENTRESbuddhistcentres.netVisit source
- Reference 20HUMANISMhumanism.scotVisit source
- Reference 21YOUGOVyougov.co.ukVisit source