In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the population identified as Christian, down from a much higher share two decades earlier. The same census recorded 37.2% selecting No religion, which has grown by 40% since 2011 and now reshapes the national picture. Across the UK, faith profiles also diverge sharply by nation and age, from 53.6% of over 65s in England to 32.5% of under 25s.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the total population (27.5 million people) identified as Christian
- Overall UK population 2021: 59.4 million, with Christians 46%
- In England and Wales 2021 Census, 3.9% (2.3 million) identified as Muslim
- In England and Wales 2021 Census, 37.2% (25.3 million) stated No religion
- In England and Wales 2021 Census, Hindu population was 1.2% (1.02 million)
Religious affiliation in the UK remains diverse, with many people identifying as non religious.
Related reading
01 · Category
Christianity30 stats
01
In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the total population (27.5 million people) identified as Christian
02
Among Christians in England and Wales 2021 Census, 46% identified as Anglican and 14% as Catholic
03
In Scotland's 2022 Census, 38.8% of the population (2.05 million) identified as Christian
04
Northern Ireland 2021 Census showed 45.7% Catholic and 43.5% Protestant, totaling 79.7% Christian
05
In England 2021, 53.6% of over 65s identified as Christian compared to 32.5% of under 25s
06
Church of England membership declined from 1.7 million in 2000 to 1.1 million in 2022
07
14.3% of England's population in 2021 were Catholic, highest in London at 26.1%
08
Baptist affiliation in England and Wales 2021 Census was 142,262 people (0.2%)
09
Methodist Church membership in UK fell to 188,000 in 2022 from 300,000 in 2010
10
Pentecostal Christians numbered 240,000 in England and Wales 2021 (0.4%)
11
In Wales 2021 Census, 43.6% identified as Christian, down from 57.6% in 2011
12
Orthodox Christians in England and Wales rose to 813,000 in 2021 (1.4%)
13
Church attendance in England averaged 740,000 weekly in 2019 pre-COVID
14
27% of UK Christians attend church monthly per 2021 British Social Attitudes survey
15
Presbyterian affiliation in Scotland 2022 Census was 8.6% (450,000)
16
In Northern Ireland, 37.3% identified as Presbyterian in 2021
17
Church of Scotland membership dropped to 259,000 in 2023
18
Evangelical Christians estimated at 2 million in UK (3.5% population) in 2020
19
Anglican baptisms in England fell 24% from 2011 to 2021
20
5.2% of Londoners were Other Christian in 2021 Census
21
UK Christian charities numbered over 20,000 in 2022
22
71% of UK Christians believe in God per 2018 Pew survey
23
Salvation Army has 30,000 active members in UK 2023
24
Seventh-day Adventists: 36,000 members in UK 2022
25
Christian population in England peaked at 72% in 2001 Census
26
2.1% of under 18s in England/Wales 2021 were Christian Orthodox
27
CofE cathedrals saw 1.2 million visitors in 2022
28
15% of UK MPs were Christian in 2023 declarations
29
Jehovah's Witnesses: 140,000 publishers in UK 2023
30
In 2021 Census, 3.1 million White British identified as Other Christian
Interpretation
Christianity Interpretation
While officially claiming the faith of their fathers, modern Britain appears to be conducting a long-term, multi-generational church exit poll, with the remaining congregation increasingly concentrated among the elderly, diverse urban populations, and the ever-vibrant realm of charitable good works.
02 · Category
Demographics and Trends20 stats
01
Overall UK population 2021: 59.4 million, with Christians 46%
02
Religion declined from 72% Christian in 2001 to 46% in 2021 England/Wales
03
Immigration drove non-Christian rise: Muslims +1.2M, Hindus +300k 2011-21
04
Urban areas: London 40% non-Christian/No religion mix 2021
05
Gender gap: Women 1.1% more Christian than men 2021 Census
06
Rural England: 50% Christian vs 40% urban 2021
07
Scotland independence voters: 58% No religion 2022
08
NI Troubles legacy: Religion still divides 80% housing 2021
09
UK fertility: No religion 1.6 vs Muslims 2.9 children/woman 2018
10
Interfaith marriages: 20% of couples mixed religion 2021
11
85% of 2021 births to No religion mothers in Scotland
12
Black Africans: 70% Christian, Asians 40% Hindu/Muslim 2021
13
Homeless: 60% No religion in England 2022 survey
14
Prison population: 48% Christian, 18% No religion, 14% Muslim 2023
15
Disability: 25% No religion vs 35% Christian 2021
16
Armed forces: 68% Christian, 20% No religion 2022
17
University students: 45% No religion 2021 HESA data
18
Projected: No religion majority by 2070 per 2018 study
19
Voter turnout: No religion 65% vs Christians 70% 2019 election
20
2021 Census: 6.0% Not stated (3.6 million) religion
Interpretation
Demographics and Trends Interpretation
While the historic faith fades in the cities and lecture halls, leaving a complex secular tapestry in its wake, the UK's religious landscape stubbornly clings to its old parish maps, woven still into the fabric of identity, community, and even conflict.
03 · Category
Islam24 stats
01
In England and Wales 2021 Census, 3.9% (2.3 million) identified as Muslim
02
Muslim population in UK grew 44% from 2011 to 2021 to 3.87 million
03
London had 15% Muslim population (1.3 million) in 2021 Census
04
In Scotland 2022, Muslims numbered 119,872 (2.2%), up 29% from 2011
05
Northern Ireland 2021 Census: 0.6% Muslim (10,870 people)
06
33.6% of UK Muslims were under 15 in 2021, vs 17% national average
07
Sunni Muslims comprise 90% of UK Muslims per 2018 estimates
08
51 mosques in Scotland with 80,000 attendees weekly in 2022
09
Pakistani Muslims: 1.6 million (42% of UK Muslims) in 2021
10
Bangladeshi Muslims: 650,000 in England/Wales 2021
11
Muslim Council of Britain represents 500+ affiliated mosques in 2023
12
78% of UK Muslims pray daily per 2021 Ipsos survey
13
Ramadan fasting participation: 92% among UK Muslims in 2022
14
Muslim population in Birmingham: 29.9% (341,811) in 2021
15
Shia Muslims: 5-10% of UK total (200,000-400,000) in 2020 estimates
16
65% of UK Muslims born outside UK per 2021 Census
17
Ahmadiyya Muslims: 25,000 in UK 2023
18
Islamic relief UK raised £100 million in 2022 aid
19
45% of UK Muslims have university degrees vs 33% national, 2021
20
Muslim women employment rate: 38% vs 77% for Christian women 2021
21
1.77 million Muslims aged 0-17 in England/Wales 2021
22
Bradford district: 30.5% Muslim (104,019) in 2021 Census
23
UK Islamic finance assets: £6.7 billion in 2022
24
96% of UK Muslims feel British per 2021 survey
Interpretation
Islam Interpretation
While composing a vibrant and youthful future for Britain, the 2021 census found its Muslim citizens—a rapidly growing, devout, and diverse community concentrated in major cities—writing their chapter with higher education, strong faith, and an overwhelming sense of British identity.
More related reading
04 · Category
No Religion22 stats
01
In England and Wales 2021 Census, 37.2% (25.3 million) stated No religion
02
No religion group grew 40% from 2011 to 2021 in England/Wales
03
In Scotland 2022 Census, 51.1% (2.7 million) No religion
04
Northern Ireland 2021: 17.4% No religion (319,000), up from 10% in 2011
05
54% of 18-24 year olds in England/Wales No religion 2021
06
Humanists UK membership: 70,000 in 2023
07
Wales 2021: 46.5% No religion, highest in UK nations
08
67% of No religion group in England/Wales have degrees vs 28% Christians, 2021
09
Atheist identification: 5% of UK population per 2021 BSA survey
10
Agnostic: 6% in 2021 British Social Attitudes poll
11
National Secular Society members: 10,000+ in 2023
12
80% of No religion under 50s in Scotland 2022
13
Sunday Assembly non-theist congregations: 50+ in UK 2023
14
48% of Londoners No religion 2021
15
No religion highest among White British: 40% in 2021
16
90% of No religion group not married vs 55% Christians 2021
17
Humanist ceremonies: 12,000 weddings in 2022 UK
18
25% of UK professors identify as atheist 2020 survey
19
No religion employment rate: 77% highest among groups 2021
20
Edinburgh: 56.6% No religion in 2022 Census
21
46% believe in evolution without God per 2019 YouGov poll
22
UK 2021 Census overall No religion/Not stated: 37-51% varying by nation
Interpretation
No Religion Interpretation
While the traditional religious landscape of the UK is evidently receding, it is being rapidly replaced not by a vacuum, but by a highly educated, professionally engaged, and ceremoniously innovative secular majority that is less wedded to both God and marriage.
05 · Category
Other Religions23 stats
01
In England and Wales 2021 Census, Hindu population was 1.2% (1.02 million)
02
Sikh population in UK: 0.9% (524,000) in 2021, highest in West Midlands
03
Jewish population: 0.5% (275,000) in England/Wales 2021
04
Buddhist population: 0.5% (273,000) in 2021 Census England/Wales
05
In Scotland 2022, Hindus: 0.8% (42,000), Sikhs 0.3%
06
Northern Ireland 2021: Other religions 1.1% including 1,700 Hindus
07
89% of UK Hindus live in England, mostly London and Midlands 2021
08
Leicester: 20.7% Hindu (85,978) in 2021 Census
09
77% of UK Sikhs aged 16-64 economically active 2021
10
Jewish population in UK declined 5% from 2011-2021 to 271,327
11
250 gurdwaras in UK serving 500,000 Sikhs in 2022
12
42% of Buddhists in England/Wales born in UK 2021
13
Board of Deputies represents 360 UK synagogues in 2023
14
Hindu temples (mandirs): over 300 in UK, Diwali events attract 1M+ annually
15
Jain population: 24,000-50,000 in UK 2021 estimates
16
Zoroastrian population: 4,000 in England/Wales 2021
17
Pagan/Wiccan: 0.1% (74,000) in 2021 Census
18
60% of UK Jews live in London and Manchester 2021
19
Baha'i faith: 2,000 adherents in UK 2022
20
Humanist Society Scotland members: 10,000 in 2023, but under Other Religions cat sometimes
21
Guru Nanak Gurdwara in London serves 20,000 Sikhs weekly
22
92% of UK Hindus vegetarian per 2018 survey
23
Jewish day schools: 50+ in UK educating 20,000 pupils 2023
Interpretation
Other Religions Interpretation
While each of the United Kingdom's diverse religious communities, from its million-plus Hindus and half-million Sikhs to its historic Jewish population and countless smaller faiths, forms a unique and vital thread, together they weave a tapestry of faith and community far richer than the sum of its often modest-seeming percentages.
Reference
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APA
Ryan Townsend. (2026, February 13). United Kingdom Religion Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-kingdom-religion-statistics
MLA
Ryan Townsend. "United Kingdom Religion Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/united-kingdom-religion-statistics.
Chicago
Ryan Townsend. 2026. "United Kingdom Religion Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/united-kingdom-religion-statistics.
Sources & references
42 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level