Christian affiliation in England and Wales has fallen below half the population for the first time. This analysis uses census data to track the decline of traditional practice alongside the growth of non-Christian faiths. Regional and generational divides reveal a complex national picture.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021 England/Wales Census, Anglican/Church of England identified by 13.3% (7,938,000+)
- In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the population (27,497,969 people) identified as Christian
- Muslims in England/Wales 2021 Census totaled 3,868,133, up 44% from 2.7m in 2011
- No religion England/Wales 37.2% (25.3 million) 2021, up from 25.2% in 2011
- Hindu population England/Wales 1,020,533 (1.7%) 2021 Census, up 25% from 2011
Most people in the UK identify as Christian, but religion is becoming increasingly diverse and less affiliated over time.
Related reading
01 · Category
Christianity27 stats
01
In 2021 England/Wales Census, Anglican/Church of England identified by 13.3% (7,938,000+)
02
Catholic Christians 8.5% England/Wales 2021 (5,056,000+)
03
Other Christian 13.7% England/Wales 2021 (8,170,000+ incl Baptist, Methodist etc)
04
Church of Scotland 20.4% Scotland 2022 Census (1,108,123)
05
Roman Catholic 13.3% Scotland 2022 (716,102)
06
Other Christian 4.4% Scotland 2022 (236,067)
07
Northern Ireland Catholic 45.7% (817,257) in 2021
08
Church of Ireland 13.7% NI 2021 (245,200)
09
Presbyterian Church in Ireland 15.4% NI 2021 (275,559)
10
Methodist Church 2.0% NI 2021 (35,741)
11
Weekly church attendance in England fell to 6% of adults by 2020 per NatCen
12
11% of UK adults attend church monthly or more in 2018 BSA survey
13
Church of England Sunday attendance 670,000 in 2022 (normal worshippers)
14
Baptisms in C of E 110,765 in 2022
15
C of E confirmations 45,629 in 2022
16
C of E marriages 82,261 in 2022
17
4% of English parishes have no worshippers on Sunday per 2022 C of E stats
18
Free Churches (Baptist/URC etc) total 1.5% England/Wales 2021 self-ID
19
Pentecostal Churches growing, 1%+ England/Wales 2021
20
Orthodox Christians 0.9% England/Wales 2021 (536,000 incl Eastern Orthodox)
21
Christian belief in God 45% UK adults 2019 Ipsos Mori
22
50% UK Christians say faith important in life per 2021 Pew
23
NI regular churchgoers 33% adults 2021 per Evangelical Alliance
24
C of E active clergy 7,870 in 2022
25
Decline in C of E Easter communicants to 1.1 million in 2019 pre-covid
26
75% of UK bishops Anglican in House of Lords 2023
27
In England/Wales 2021, Christian % dropped 13.1 pts from 2011's 59.3%
Interpretation
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.
02 · Category
Demographics and Population30 stats
01
In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the population (27,497,969 people) identified as Christian
02
In the 2021 Census, 37.2% of England and Wales residents (25,267,423) reported no religion
03
Muslims made up 6.5% of England and Wales population in 2021 Census (3,868,133 people)
04
Hindus comprised 1.7% of England and Wales in 2021 (1,020,533)
05
Sikhs were 0.9% of England and Wales population in 2021 (524,515)
06
In Scotland's 2022 Census, 38.1% identified as Christian (2,050,211)
07
No religion was 51.1% in Scotland 2022 Census (2,746,486)
08
Muslims 2.2% in Scotland 2022 (119,872)
09
In Northern Ireland 2021 Census, 45.7% Catholic (817,257)
10
Presbyterians 17.4% in NI 2021 (310,667)
11
London had 40.7% Christian in 2021 England/Wales Census
12
In London, Muslims 15.0% (1,318,754) in 2021
13
No religion 20.7% in London 2021 Census
14
North East England 67.5% Christian in 2021
15
Wales 43.6% Christian in 2021 (1,295,964)
16
Under 18s in England/Wales 2021: 38.9% no religion (4,401,200)
17
Over 65s: 90.4% Christian among those born pre-1957 in 2021
18
Males 37.8% no religion, females 36.6% in England/Wales 2021
19
UK total population identifying as Christian estimated at 47.3 million in 2011 Census across nations
20
2021 Census shows 59.4 million in England/Wales total pop for religion questions
21
Other religion 0.6% England/Wales 2021 (373,071)
22
Not stated religion 6.0% England/Wales 2021 (3,550,676)
23
Scotland Church of Scotland 20.4% in 2022 (1,108,123)
24
NI no religion 17.4% in 2021 (311,457)
25
England alone 46.3% Christian in 2021 (27 million+)
26
Urban areas England/Wales average 44% Christian vs rural 52% in 2021
27
Deprived areas England/Wales 50% Christian, less deprived 42% in 2021
28
25.7% of England/Wales pop not stating religion declined from 7.2% in 2011 to 6.0%
29
Gypsy/Roma 48.0% Christian in England/Wales 2021
30
Arab ethnic group 42.4% Muslim in England/Wales 2021
Interpretation
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.
03 · Category
Islam20 stats
01
Muslims in England/Wales 2021 Census totaled 3,868,133, up 44% from 2.7m in 2011
02
Muslim % in London 15.0% (1,318,754) 2021 Census
03
Birmingham 29.9% Muslim (341,811) 2021
04
Under 18 Muslims 9.4% England/Wales 2021 (1.1 million+)
05
Pakistani ethnic group 92.3% Muslim England/Wales 2021
06
Bangladeshi 95.2% Muslim 2021 Census
07
Scotland Muslims 119,872 (2.2%) 2022 Census, up from 76,737 in 2011
08
NI Muslims 10,870 (0.6%) 2021 Census
09
78% UK Muslims say religion very important 2016 Pew survey
10
Mosque capacity UK 500,000+ worshippers weekly per 2021 estimates
11
Ramadan attendance peak 1 million+ UK mosques annually
12
Muslim Council of Britain represents 500+ affiliated mosques 2023
13
Shia Muslims ~10% of UK total (400,000 est) 2021
14
Deobandi mosques 40%+ of UK total per 2019 study
15
Muslim women 52% wear hijab daily per 2016 ICM poll
16
47% UK Muslims attend mosque weekly 2016 ICM
17
Muslim births 8.1% England/Wales 2019 ONS
18
Leicester 20.4% Muslim (47,556) 2021 Census
19
Bradford 30.5% Muslim (167,847) 2021
20
Muslim % doubles in Tower Hamlets to 39.9% 2021 from 2001
Interpretation
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.
More related reading
04 · Category
No Religion and Trends19 stats
01
No religion England/Wales 37.2% (25.3 million) 2021, up from 25.2% in 2011
02
Scotland no religion 51.1% (2.75 million) 2022, up from 36.7% 2011
03
NI no religion 17.4% (311,457) 2021, up 77% from 2011
04
Under 40s 50%+ no religion England/Wales 2021 Census
05
18-24 year olds 49.1% no religion England/Wales 2021 (3+ million)
06
Atheist explicit 2021 ~500,000 England/Wales write-in
07
Agnostic ~250,000 explicit 2021 Census
08
Humanist Society Scotland members 10,000+ 2023
09
BSA 2022: 38% no religion, 47% Christian ID
10
52% UK say not religious 2021 YouGov poll
11
Christian ID down 30% since 1983 per BSA long-term trend
12
No religion highest in Scotland 56% young adults 2022
13
London no religion 20.7% lowest regional 2021 but up from 2011
14
University educated 50%+ no religion England 2021
15
6.0% not stated down from 7.2% 2011 indicating clearer no religion shift
16
Ipsos 2022: 50% no religion or atheist/agnostic
17
NI Protestants down to 42.3% from 48% 2011
18
White British 44.5% Christian 2021 down sharply
19
80% no religion among 18-24 non-Christians in BSA 2022
Interpretation
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.
05 · Category
Other Religions19 stats
01
Hindu population England/Wales 1,020,533 (1.7%) 2021 Census, up 25% from 2011
02
Sikhs 524,515 (0.9%) England/Wales 2021, stable from 2011
03
Buddhists 273,154 (0.5%) England/Wales 2021
04
Jews 275,346 (0.5%) England/Wales 2021
05
Leicester 18.9% Hindu (43,953) 2021 Census
06
Indian ethnic group 92.5% Hindu or Sikh England/Wales 2021
07
Scotland Hindus 16,557 (0.3%) 2022 Census
08
NI Hindus 629 (<0.1%) 2021
09
Jainism 0.05% England/Wales 2021 (33,000+)
10
Zoroastrians ~5,000 UK total 2021 est
11
Jewish population London 173,000+ half UK total 2021
12
Orthodox Jews 20%+ of UK Jews per 2021 Census write-ins
13
Sikh Gurdwaras 200+ UK with 500,000+ adherents
14
Hindu temples (mandirs) 300+ UK 2023
15
Buddhist centres 500+ UK per 2020 network
16
Paganism 0.1% England/Wales 2021 (74,000 Wicca/Druid etc)
17
Spiritualists 0.1% (38,000) 2021 Census
18
Humanists/Atheists grouped in no religion but 30,000+ explicit 2021
19
Baha'i 0.03% (15,000 est) UK 2021
Interpretation
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.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Aisha Okonkwo. (2026, February 13). Religion In The Uk Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/religion-in-the-uk-statistics
MLA
Aisha Okonkwo. "Religion In The Uk Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/religion-in-the-uk-statistics.
Chicago
Aisha Okonkwo. 2026. "Religion In The Uk Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/religion-in-the-uk-statistics.
Sources & references
21 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level