UK Religion Statistics 2026 — 46% Christian, 37% No Religion
For the first time in census history, fewer than half the population of England and Wales identified as Christian. Christianity fell from 59.3% in 2011 to 46.2% in 2021, while those reporting no religion rose from 25.2% to 37.2%. Christianity remains the largest single group.
Christian — England & Wales 2021
No Religion
Muslim
Hindu
Sikh
Jewish
Buddhist
Not Stated / Other Religion
Source: ONS Census 2021 · England and Wales data · Published March 2023
46.2% of people in England and Wales described themselves as Christian in the 2021 Census — still the largest single group, but below half the population for the first time, according to the ONS.
The proportion identifying as Christian fell from 59.3% in 2011 to 46.2% in 2021 — a drop of 5.8 million people over a decade.
Muslims are now the second largest religious group in England and Wales at 6.5% (3.9 million people) — up from 4.9% in 2011.
About These Statistics
The 2021 Census marked a historic turning point in British religious life. For the first time, fewer than half of the population identified as Christian (46.2%), though Christianity remained the largest single group. Those reporting no religion rose to 37.2%. Just a decade earlier, in 2011, Christians were 59.3% of the population and the non-religious were 25.2%.
Islam is the second-largest religion at 6.5%, up from 4.9% in 2011. Hinduism grew from 1.5% to 1.7%, while Sikhism rose from 0.8% to 0.9%. These increases reflect both population growth within established communities and continued immigration.
The decline in Christianity is driven primarily by older Christians dying and younger generations not adopting the faith. Young people aged 18–29 are the least religious cohort in British history — approximately 60% report no religion.
Religion in England and Wales — 2021 vs 2011
Change in religious affiliation over the decade. Source: ONS Census.
| Religion | 2021 % | 2021 Number | 2011 % | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christian | 46.2% | 27.5 million | 59.3% | −13.1pp |
| No Religion | 37.2% | 22.2 million | 25.2% | +12.0pp |
| Muslim | 6.5% | 3.9 million | 4.9% | +1.6pp |
| Hindu | 1.7% | 1.0 million | 1.5% | +0.2pp |
| Sikh | 0.9% | 524,000 | 0.8% | +0.1pp |
| Jewish | 0.5% | 271,000 | 0.5% | 0pp |
| Buddhist | 0.5% | 273,000 | 0.5% | 0pp |
| Not Stated / Other | 6.7% | 4.0 million | 7.2% | −0.5pp |
Source: ONS Census 2021 and 2011 · England and Wales
Frequently Asked Questions
Based on ONS Census 2021 data
What percentage of the UK has no religion?
37.2% of people in England and Wales said they had no religion in the 2021 Census — up from 25.2% in 2011. Christianity remained the largest group at 46.2%, but fell below half the population for the first time. In Scotland, approximately 51% reported no religion in the 2022 Census — there, the non-religious are the largest group.
How many Christians are there in the UK?
Approximately 27.5 million people (46.2% of England and Wales) identified as Christian in the 2021 Census, down from 33.3 million (59.3%) in 2011. Christianity remains the single largest religious group, but 2021 was the first census in which it accounted for fewer than half the population.
What is the Muslim population of the UK?
Approximately 3.9 million people (6.5% of England and Wales) identified as Muslim in the 2021 Census, up from 2.7 million (4.9%) in 2011. The Muslim population is concentrated in London, Birmingham, Bradford and Manchester. Islam is growing due to immigration and a higher birth rate.
Is the UK becoming less religious?
Yes. The UK is secularising rapidly. Church of England weekly attendance has fallen from around 1 million in 2000 to under 700,000. Weekly religious attendance of any kind is approximately 5–6% of the population. Young people are driving the trend — around 60% of those aged 18–29 report no religion.
How does religion vary by region in the UK?
London is the most religiously diverse area with the highest proportions of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and Jews. Northern Ireland remains the most Christian part of the UK at around 83%. Scotland and Wales have higher rates of no religion than England. Rural England tends to be more Christian than urban areas.