While Britain’s ancient cathedrals still draw millions, a historic transformation is unfolding, as the latest census reveals a nation where fewer than half now identify as Christian, a dramatic decline that has reshaped the religious landscape in just a single generation.
Key Takeaways
- In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the total population (27.5 million people) identified as Christian
- Among Christians in England and Wales 2021 Census, 46% identified as Anglican and 14% as Catholic
- In Scotland's 2022 Census, 38.8% of the population (2.05 million) identified as Christian
- In England and Wales 2021 Census, 3.9% (2.3 million) identified as Muslim
- Muslim population in UK grew 44% from 2011 to 2021 to 3.87 million
- London had 15% Muslim population (1.3 million) in 2021 Census
- In England and Wales 2021 Census, Hindu population was 1.2% (1.02 million)
- Sikh population in UK: 0.9% (524,000) in 2021, highest in West Midlands
- Jewish population: 0.5% (275,000) in England/Wales 2021
- In England and Wales 2021 Census, 37.2% (25.3 million) stated No religion
- No religion group grew 40% from 2011 to 2021 in England/Wales
- In Scotland 2022 Census, 51.1% (2.7 million) No religion
- Overall UK population 2021: 59.4 million, with Christians 46%
- Religion declined from 72% Christian in 2001 to 46% in 2021 England/Wales
- Immigration drove non-Christian rise: Muslims +1.2M, Hindus +300k 2011-21
Christianity continues to be the UK’s largest faith, but recent years have shown a clear pattern of an aging population and gradual declines in adherence.
Christianity
1In the 2021 Census for England and Wales, 46.2% of the total population (27.5 million people) identified as Christian
Verified
2Among Christians in England and Wales 2021 Census, 46% identified as Anglican and 14% as Catholic
Directional
3In Scotland's 2022 Census, 38.8% of the population (2.05 million) identified as Christian
Verified
4Northern Ireland 2021 Census showed 45.7% Catholic and 43.5% Protestant, totaling 79.7% Christian
Single source
5In England 2021, 53.6% of over 65s identified as Christian compared to 32.5% of under 25s
Directional
6Church of England membership declined from 1.7 million in 2000 to 1.1 million in 2022
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714.3% of England's population in 2021 were Catholic, highest in London at 26.1%
Directional
8Baptist affiliation in England and Wales 2021 Census was 142,262 people (0.2%)
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9Methodist Church membership in UK fell to 188,000 in 2022 from 300,000 in 2010
Single source
10Pentecostal Christians numbered 240,000 in England and Wales 2021 (0.4%)
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11In Wales 2021 Census, 43.6% identified as Christian, down from 57.6% in 2011
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12Orthodox Christians in England and Wales rose to 813,000 in 2021 (1.4%)
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13Church attendance in England averaged 740,000 weekly in 2019 pre-COVID
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1427% of UK Christians attend church monthly per 2021 British Social Attitudes survey
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15Presbyterian affiliation in Scotland 2022 Census was 8.6% (450,000)
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16In Northern Ireland, 37.3% identified as Presbyterian in 2021
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17Church of Scotland membership dropped to 259,000 in 2023
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18Evangelical Christians estimated at 2 million in UK (3.5% population) in 2020
Directional
19Anglican baptisms in England fell 24% from 2011 to 2021
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205.2% of Londoners were Other Christian in 2021 Census
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21UK Christian charities numbered over 20,000 in 2022
Directional
2271% of UK Christians believe in God per 2018 Pew survey
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23Salvation Army has 30,000 active members in UK 2023
Directional
24Seventh-day Adventists: 36,000 members in UK 2022
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25Christian population in England peaked at 72% in 2001 Census
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262.1% of under 18s in England/Wales 2021 were Christian Orthodox
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27CofE cathedrals saw 1.2 million visitors in 2022
Directional
2815% of UK MPs were Christian in 2023 declarations
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29Jehovah's Witnesses: 140,000 publishers in UK 2023
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30In 2021 Census, 3.1 million White British identified as Other Christian
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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.
Demographics and Trends
1Overall UK population 2021: 59.4 million, with Christians 46%
Single source
2Religion declined from 72% Christian in 2001 to 46% in 2021 England/Wales
Single source
3Immigration drove non-Christian rise: Muslims +1.2M, Hindus +300k 2011-21
Verified
4Urban areas: London 40% non-Christian/No religion mix 2021
Directional
5Gender gap: Women 1.1% more Christian than men 2021 Census
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6Rural England: 50% Christian vs 40% urban 2021
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7Scotland independence voters: 58% No religion 2022
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8NI Troubles legacy: Religion still divides 80% housing 2021
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9UK fertility: No religion 1.6 vs Muslims 2.9 children/woman 2018
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10Interfaith marriages: 20% of couples mixed religion 2021
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1185% of 2021 births to No religion mothers in Scotland
Single source
12Black Africans: 70% Christian, Asians 40% Hindu/Muslim 2021
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13Homeless: 60% No religion in England 2022 survey
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14Prison population: 48% Christian, 18% No religion, 14% Muslim 2023
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15Disability: 25% No religion vs 35% Christian 2021
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16Armed forces: 68% Christian, 20% No religion 2022
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17University students: 45% No religion 2021 HESA data
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18Projected: No religion majority by 2070 per 2018 study
Single source
19Voter turnout: No religion 65% vs Christians 70% 2019 election
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202021 Census: 6.0% Not stated (3.6 million) religion
Verified
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.
Islam
1In England and Wales 2021 Census, 3.9% (2.3 million) identified as Muslim
Verified
2Muslim population in UK grew 44% from 2011 to 2021 to 3.87 million
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3London had 15% Muslim population (1.3 million) in 2021 Census
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4In Scotland 2022, Muslims numbered 119,872 (2.2%), up 29% from 2011
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5Northern Ireland 2021 Census: 0.6% Muslim (10,870 people)
Verified
633.6% of UK Muslims were under 15 in 2021, vs 17% national average
Verified
7Sunni Muslims comprise 90% of UK Muslims per 2018 estimates
Single source
851 mosques in Scotland with 80,000 attendees weekly in 2022
Verified
9Pakistani Muslims: 1.6 million (42% of UK Muslims) in 2021
Directional
10Bangladeshi Muslims: 650,000 in England/Wales 2021
Directional
11Muslim Council of Britain represents 500+ affiliated mosques in 2023
Single source
1278% of UK Muslims pray daily per 2021 Ipsos survey
Verified
13Ramadan fasting participation: 92% among UK Muslims in 2022
Directional
14Muslim population in Birmingham: 29.9% (341,811) in 2021
Verified
15Shia Muslims: 5-10% of UK total (200,000-400,000) in 2020 estimates
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1665% of UK Muslims born outside UK per 2021 Census
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17Ahmadiyya Muslims: 25,000 in UK 2023
Single source
18Islamic relief UK raised £100 million in 2022 aid
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1945% of UK Muslims have university degrees vs 33% national, 2021
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20Muslim women employment rate: 38% vs 77% for Christian women 2021
Directional
211.77 million Muslims aged 0-17 in England/Wales 2021
Verified
22Bradford district: 30.5% Muslim (104,019) in 2021 Census
Verified
23UK Islamic finance assets: £6.7 billion in 2022
Single source
2496% of UK Muslims feel British per 2021 survey
Verified
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.
No Religion
1In England and Wales 2021 Census, 37.2% (25.3 million) stated No religion
Verified
2No religion group grew 40% from 2011 to 2021 in England/Wales
Directional
3In Scotland 2022 Census, 51.1% (2.7 million) No religion
Verified
4Northern Ireland 2021: 17.4% No religion (319,000), up from 10% in 2011
Verified
554% of 18-24 year olds in England/Wales No religion 2021
Verified
6Humanists UK membership: 70,000 in 2023
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7Wales 2021: 46.5% No religion, highest in UK nations
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867% of No religion group in England/Wales have degrees vs 28% Christians, 2021
Single source
9Atheist identification: 5% of UK population per 2021 BSA survey
Verified
10Agnostic: 6% in 2021 British Social Attitudes poll
Directional
11National Secular Society members: 10,000+ in 2023
Single source
1280% of No religion under 50s in Scotland 2022
Verified
13Sunday Assembly non-theist congregations: 50+ in UK 2023
Single source
1448% of Londoners No religion 2021
Verified
15No religion highest among White British: 40% in 2021
Directional
1690% of No religion group not married vs 55% Christians 2021
Verified
17Humanist ceremonies: 12,000 weddings in 2022 UK
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1825% of UK professors identify as atheist 2020 survey
Single source
19No religion employment rate: 77% highest among groups 2021
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20Edinburgh: 56.6% No religion in 2022 Census
Verified
2146% believe in evolution without God per 2019 YouGov poll
Single source
22UK 2021 Census overall No religion/Not stated: 37-51% varying by nation
Single source
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.
Other Religions
1In England and Wales 2021 Census, Hindu population was 1.2% (1.02 million)
Directional
2Sikh population in UK: 0.9% (524,000) in 2021, highest in West Midlands
Directional
3Jewish population: 0.5% (275,000) in England/Wales 2021
Verified
4Buddhist population: 0.5% (273,000) in 2021 Census England/Wales
Directional
5In Scotland 2022, Hindus: 0.8% (42,000), Sikhs 0.3%
Verified
6Northern Ireland 2021: Other religions 1.1% including 1,700 Hindus
Verified
789% of UK Hindus live in England, mostly London and Midlands 2021
Verified
8Leicester: 20.7% Hindu (85,978) in 2021 Census
Directional
977% of UK Sikhs aged 16-64 economically active 2021
Verified
10Jewish population in UK declined 5% from 2011-2021 to 271,327
Verified
11250 gurdwaras in UK serving 500,000 Sikhs in 2022
Verified
1242% of Buddhists in England/Wales born in UK 2021
Verified
13Board of Deputies represents 360 UK synagogues in 2023
Verified
14Hindu temples (mandirs): over 300 in UK, Diwali events attract 1M+ annually
Verified
15Jain population: 24,000-50,000 in UK 2021 estimates
Verified
16Zoroastrian population: 4,000 in England/Wales 2021
Verified
17Pagan/Wiccan: 0.1% (74,000) in 2021 Census
Verified
1860% of UK Jews live in London and Manchester 2021
Single source
19Baha'i faith: 2,000 adherents in UK 2022
Single source
20Humanist Society Scotland members: 10,000 in 2023, but under Other Religions cat sometimes
Single source
21Guru Nanak Gurdwara in London serves 20,000 Sikhs weekly
Verified
2292% of UK Hindus vegetarian per 2018 survey
Verified
23Jewish day schools: 50+ in UK educating 20,000 pupils 2023
Directional
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.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
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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.
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