Religion in the UK is diverse, with Christianity remaining the largest faith but declining, while “No Religion” has surged, particularly in England and Wales where it nears 40% in the 2021 Census, with significant Muslim, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, and Jewish communities also present. Christianity is still the most common, but for the first time, less than half the population identified as Christian, reflecting a trend towards secularism alongside growth in some minority faiths.
Key Religions & Demographics (England & Wales, 2021 Census):
Christian: 46.2% (down from 59.3% in 2011).
No Religion: 37.2% (up from 25.2% in 2011).
Muslim: 6.5% (approx. 3.9 million).
Hindu: 1.7% (approx. 1 million).
Sikh: 0.9% (approx. 524,000).
Buddhist: 0.6% (approx. 348,000).
Jewish: 0.5% (approx. 271,000).
Trends:
Secularization: A significant rise in people reporting “No Religion” (atheist, agnostic, or not sure) is a major trend.
Christianity’s Decline: The proportion of Christians has fallen steadily over decades.
Growth in Other Faiths: Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism have seen increases in adherents.
Religious Landscape:
Diversity: Larger cities like London show greater religious diversity, with Christianity as a minority faith but still the largest group, alongside substantial Muslim and other communities.
Tolerance: The UK is generally tolerant, allowing people to wear religious attire (hijabs, turbans, etc.) and observe diverse festivals (Eid, Diwali, Christmas).
Denominations: Christianity encompasses many denominations, including the Church of England (the established church), Catholicism, Methodists, Baptists, and more.
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