Religion by Country
Religion in the United Kingdom: Statistics & Demographics
Where a country with an established church became, for the first time, less than half Christian.
Quick answer
At the 2021 Census of England and Wales, 46.2% described themselves as Christian — the first time below half — while 37.2% reported no religion, up from 25.2% in 2011. Islam (6.5%) is the largest non-Christian religion, followed by Hinduism (1.7%). Scotland and Northern Ireland are counted separately and are also secularising.
- Largest religion
- Christianity — 46.2% (England & Wales)
- Second largest
- No religion — 37.2%
- Largest non-Christian faith
- Islam — 6.5%
- Data source
- Office for National Statistics (ONS)
- Reference year
- 2021 Census (England & Wales)
Religion in the United Kingdom at a glance
The 2021 Census marked a turning point: for the first time, fewer than half the people of England and Wales described themselves as Christian. Christianity is still the largest single affiliation, but “no religion” has risen sharply behind it. The figures below are from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) and cover England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland run separate censuses.
| Affiliation | 2011 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Christian | 59.3% | 46.2% |
| No religion | 25.2% | 37.2% |
| Muslim | 4.9% | 6.5% |
| Hindu | 1.5% | 1.7% |
The main affiliations
Christianity (46.2%) remains the largest group but fell 13 points in a decade. No religion (37.2%) was the second most common answer and the fastest-growing. Islam (6.5%) is the largest non-Christian religion, concentrated in London and cities such as Birmingham and Bradford, followed by Hinduism (1.7%), Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism.
A rapid shift
Between 2011 and 2021 the Christian share fell from 59.3% to 46.2% while “no religion” rose from 25.2% to 37.2% — the largest single change in the census. Wales secularised even faster, with no religion (46.5%) overtaking Christianity. Much of the shift is generational, with around 60% of 18–29-year-olds reporting no religion.
An established church in a secular society
The United Kingdom still has established churches — the Church of England, with the monarch as its Supreme Governor and bishops in the House of Lords, and the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland — even as active weekly attendance has fallen to a small share of the population. Formal establishment and everyday practice have drifted a long way apart.
Belief and society
The UK's pattern mirrors other Western democracies. Compare religion in Australia and religion in Canada.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main religion in the UK?
Christianity is the largest religion, but at the 2021 Census of England and Wales it fell below half the population for the first time, to 46.2%.
What percentage of the UK has no religion?
In England and Wales, 37.2% reported no religion at the 2021 Census, up from 25.2% in 2011; in Wales the figure was 46.5%.
What is the largest non-Christian religion in the UK?
Islam is the largest non-Christian religion in England and Wales, at 6.5% of the population, followed by Hinduism at 1.7%.
Does the UK have an official religion?
Yes — the Church of England is the established church in England, with the monarch as its Supreme Governor, and the Church of Scotland is the national church in Scotland, even though active attendance is low.
Sources & methodology
Figures are from the Office for National Statistics 2021 Census and cover England and Wales, where the religion question is voluntary (answered by about 94%). Scotland (National Records of Scotland) and Northern Ireland (NISRA) conduct separate censuses, so UK-wide totals combine different collections.
- Office for National Statistics, Religion, England and Wales: Census 2021.