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
1In 2021 England/Wales Census, Anglican/Church of England identified by 13.3% (7,938,000+)
Verified2Catholic Christians 8.5% England/Wales 2021 (5,056,000+)
Verified3Other Christian 13.7% England/Wales 2021 (8,170,000+ incl Baptist, Methodist etc)
Verified4Church of Scotland 20.4% Scotland 2022 Census (1,108,123)
Directional5Roman Catholic 13.3% Scotland 2022 (716,102)
Single source6Other Christian 4.4% Scotland 2022 (236,067)
Verified7Northern Ireland Catholic 45.7% (817,257) in 2021
Verified8Church of Ireland 13.7% NI 2021 (245,200)
Verified9Presbyterian Church in Ireland 15.4% NI 2021 (275,559)
Directional10Methodist Church 2.0% NI 2021 (35,741)
Single source11Weekly church attendance in England fell to 6% of adults by 2020 per NatCen
Verified1211% of UK adults attend church monthly or more in 2018 BSA survey
Verified13Church of England Sunday attendance 670,000 in 2022 (normal worshippers)
Verified14Baptisms in C of E 110,765 in 2022
Directional15C of E confirmations 45,629 in 2022
Single source16C of E marriages 82,261 in 2022
Verified174% of English parishes have no worshippers on Sunday per 2022 C of E stats
Verified18Free Churches (Baptist/URC etc) total 1.5% England/Wales 2021 self-ID
Verified19Pentecostal Churches growing, 1%+ England/Wales 2021
Directional20Orthodox Christians 0.9% England/Wales 2021 (536,000 incl Eastern Orthodox)
Single source21Christian belief in God 45% UK adults 2019 Ipsos Mori
Verified2250% UK Christians say faith important in life per 2021 Pew
Verified23NI regular churchgoers 33% adults 2021 per Evangelical Alliance
Verified24C of E active clergy 7,870 in 2022
Directional25Decline in C of E Easter communicants to 1.1 million in 2019 pre-covid
Single source2675% of UK bishops Anglican in House of Lords 2023
Verified27In England/Wales 2021, Christian % dropped 13.1 pts from 2011's 59.3%
VerifiedChristianity 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
1In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the population (27,497,969 people) identified as Christian
Verified2In the 2021 Census, 37.2% of England and Wales residents (25,267,423) reported no religion
Verified3Muslims made up 6.5% of England and Wales population in 2021 Census (3,868,133 people)
Verified4Hindus comprised 1.7% of England and Wales in 2021 (1,020,533)
Directional5Sikhs were 0.9% of England and Wales population in 2021 (524,515)
Single source6In Scotland's 2022 Census, 38.1% identified as Christian (2,050,211)
Verified7No religion was 51.1% in Scotland 2022 Census (2,746,486)
Verified8Muslims 2.2% in Scotland 2022 (119,872)
Verified9In Northern Ireland 2021 Census, 45.7% Catholic (817,257)
Directional10Presbyterians 17.4% in NI 2021 (310,667)
Single source11London had 40.7% Christian in 2021 England/Wales Census
Verified12In London, Muslims 15.0% (1,318,754) in 2021
Verified13No religion 20.7% in London 2021 Census
Verified14North East England 67.5% Christian in 2021
Directional15Wales 43.6% Christian in 2021 (1,295,964)
Single source16Under 18s in England/Wales 2021: 38.9% no religion (4,401,200)
Verified17Over 65s: 90.4% Christian among those born pre-1957 in 2021
Verified18Males 37.8% no religion, females 36.6% in England/Wales 2021
Verified19UK total population identifying as Christian estimated at 47.3 million in 2011 Census across nations
Directional202021 Census shows 59.4 million in England/Wales total pop for religion questions
Single source21Other religion 0.6% England/Wales 2021 (373,071)
Verified22Not stated religion 6.0% England/Wales 2021 (3,550,676)
Verified23Scotland Church of Scotland 20.4% in 2022 (1,108,123)
Verified24NI no religion 17.4% in 2021 (311,457)
Directional25England alone 46.3% Christian in 2021 (27 million+)
Single source26Urban areas England/Wales average 44% Christian vs rural 52% in 2021
Verified27Deprived areas England/Wales 50% Christian, less deprived 42% in 2021
Verified2825.7% of England/Wales pop not stating religion declined from 7.2% in 2011 to 6.0%
Verified29Gypsy/Roma 48.0% Christian in England/Wales 2021
Directional30Arab ethnic group 42.4% Muslim in England/Wales 2021
Single sourceDemographics 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
1Muslims in England/Wales 2021 Census totaled 3,868,133, up 44% from 2.7m in 2011
Verified2Muslim % in London 15.0% (1,318,754) 2021 Census
Verified3Birmingham 29.9% Muslim (341,811) 2021
Verified4Under 18 Muslims 9.4% England/Wales 2021 (1.1 million+)
Directional5Pakistani ethnic group 92.3% Muslim England/Wales 2021
Single source6Bangladeshi 95.2% Muslim 2021 Census
Verified7Scotland Muslims 119,872 (2.2%) 2022 Census, up from 76,737 in 2011
Verified8NI Muslims 10,870 (0.6%) 2021 Census
Verified978% UK Muslims say religion very important 2016 Pew survey
Directional10Mosque capacity UK 500,000+ worshippers weekly per 2021 estimates
Single source11Ramadan attendance peak 1 million+ UK mosques annually
Verified12Muslim Council of Britain represents 500+ affiliated mosques 2023
Verified13Shia Muslims ~10% of UK total (400,000 est) 2021
Verified14Deobandi mosques 40%+ of UK total per 2019 study
Directional15Muslim women 52% wear hijab daily per 2016 ICM poll
Single source1647% UK Muslims attend mosque weekly 2016 ICM
Verified17Muslim births 8.1% England/Wales 2019 ONS
Verified18Leicester 20.4% Muslim (47,556) 2021 Census
Verified19Bradford 30.5% Muslim (167,847) 2021
Directional20Muslim % doubles in Tower Hamlets to 39.9% 2021 from 2001
Single sourceIslam 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
1No religion England/Wales 37.2% (25.3 million) 2021, up from 25.2% in 2011
Verified2Scotland no religion 51.1% (2.75 million) 2022, up from 36.7% 2011
Verified3NI no religion 17.4% (311,457) 2021, up 77% from 2011
Verified4Under 40s 50%+ no religion England/Wales 2021 Census
Directional518-24 year olds 49.1% no religion England/Wales 2021 (3+ million)
Single source6Atheist explicit 2021 ~500,000 England/Wales write-in
Verified7Agnostic ~250,000 explicit 2021 Census
Verified8Humanist Society Scotland members 10,000+ 2023
Verified9BSA 2022: 38% no religion, 47% Christian ID
Directional1052% UK say not religious 2021 YouGov poll
Single source11Christian ID down 30% since 1983 per BSA long-term trend
Verified12No religion highest in Scotland 56% young adults 2022
Verified13London no religion 20.7% lowest regional 2021 but up from 2011
Verified14University educated 50%+ no religion England 2021
Directional156.0% not stated down from 7.2% 2011 indicating clearer no religion shift
Single source16Ipsos 2022: 50% no religion or atheist/agnostic
Verified17NI Protestants down to 42.3% from 48% 2011
Verified18White British 44.5% Christian 2021 down sharply
Verified1980% no religion among 18-24 non-Christians in BSA 2022
DirectionalNo 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
1Hindu population England/Wales 1,020,533 (1.7%) 2021 Census, up 25% from 2011
Verified2Sikhs 524,515 (0.9%) England/Wales 2021, stable from 2011
Verified3Buddhists 273,154 (0.5%) England/Wales 2021
Verified4Jews 275,346 (0.5%) England/Wales 2021
Directional5Leicester 18.9% Hindu (43,953) 2021 Census
Single source6Indian ethnic group 92.5% Hindu or Sikh England/Wales 2021
Verified7Scotland Hindus 16,557 (0.3%) 2022 Census
Verified8NI Hindus 629 (<0.1%) 2021
Verified9Jainism 0.05% England/Wales 2021 (33,000+)
Directional10Zoroastrians ~5,000 UK total 2021 est
Single source11Jewish population London 173,000+ half UK total 2021
Verified12Orthodox Jews 20%+ of UK Jews per 2021 Census write-ins
Verified13Sikh Gurdwaras 200+ UK with 500,000+ adherents
Verified14Hindu temples (mandirs) 300+ UK 2023
Directional15Buddhist centres 500+ UK per 2020 network
Single source16Paganism 0.1% England/Wales 2021 (74,000 Wicca/Druid etc)
Verified17Spiritualists 0.1% (38,000) 2021 Census
Verified18Humanists/Atheists grouped in no religion but 30,000+ explicit 2021
Verified19Baha'i 0.03% (15,000 est) UK 2021
DirectionalOther 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
- Reference 16ICMUNLIMITEDicmunlimited.comVisit source
- Reference 17SIKHAWARENESSsikhawareness.co.ukVisit source
- Reference 18HINDUhindu.org.ukVisit source
- Reference 19BUDDHISTCENTRESbuddhistcentres.netVisit source
- Reference 20HUMANISMhumanism.scotVisit source
- Reference 21YOUGOVyougov.co.ukVisit source