UK Religious Places & Faith Community Guide

London was the most religiously diverse region of England in the 2021 Census. Christianity remained the largest religious affiliation at 40.7%, but fewer than half of London residents identified as Christian. No religion was reported by 27.1%, Islam by 15.0%, Hinduism by 5.1%, Judaism by 1.7%, Sikhism by 1.6%, Buddhism by 0.9%, and other religions by 1.0%; 7.0% did not answer the voluntary religion question. About 25.3% of London's usual residents identified with a religion other than Christianity.

Birmingham is one of England's most religiously diverse major cities. In the 2021 Census, Christianity was the largest religious affiliation at 34.0%, closely followed by Islam at 29.9%. A further 24.1% reported no religion. Sikhism accounted for 2.9%, Hinduism 1.9%, Buddhism 0.4%, Judaism 0.1%, and other religions 0.6%; 6.1% did not answer the voluntary religion question. The Muslim population has grown particularly strongly since 2011, while the proportion identifying as Christian has fallen substantially.

Leicester is one of England's most religiously diverse cities, with Christianity, Islam, no religion and Hinduism all representing substantial portions of the population. In the 2021 Census, 24.7% identified as Christian, 23.5% as Muslim, 23.0% as having no religion and 17.9% as Hindu. Sikhism accounted for 4.5%, Buddhism 0.3%, Judaism 0.1% and other religions 0.6%; 5.6% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Leicester had the second-highest Hindu proportion of any local authority in England after Harrow and one of England's largest Sikh communities.

Manchester has a highly diverse religious and non-religious population. In the 2021 Census, 36.2% of residents identified as Christian, 32.4% reported no religion and 22.3% identified as Muslim. Smaller shares identified as Hindu (1.1%), Buddhist (0.6%), Sikh (0.5%), Jewish (0.5%) or another religion (0.5%); 5.9% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Compared with 2011, Christian affiliation declined markedly while both no religion and Muslim affiliation increased.

Bradford has one of the UK's largest Muslim populations by local-authority proportion and an unusually balanced religious profile. In the 2021 Census, 33.4% of residents identified as Christian, 30.5% as Muslim and 28.2% as having no religion. Sikhism and Hinduism each accounted for 0.9%, Buddhism 0.2%, Judaism rounded to 0.0%, and other religions 0.4%; 5.5% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Since 2011, Christian affiliation has fallen substantially while Muslim affiliation and no religion have increased.

Leeds has a distinctive combination of a large Christian population and a very large non-religious population. In the 2021 Census, 42.3% of residents identified as Christian and 40.2% reported no religion, the two largest categories by a substantial margin. Islam was the largest non-Christian religion at 7.8%, followed by Sikhism at 1.2%, Hinduism at 1.1%, Judaism at 0.8% and Buddhism at 0.4%; 0.4% selected another religion and 5.8% did not answer the voluntary question. The proportion reporting no religion rose sharply from 28.2% in 2011, while Christian affiliation fell from 55.9%.

Cardiff had the highest proportion reporting no religion of any local authority in Wales in the 2021 Census: 42.9%. Christianity was the second-largest response at 38.3%, followed by Islam at 9.3%. Hinduism accounted for 1.5%, Sikhism 0.4%, Buddhism 0.4%, Judaism 0.2% and other religions 0.6%; 6.3% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Since 2011, no religion increased sharply from 31.8% while Christian affiliation fell from 51.4%. Cardiff also had the highest proportions in Wales for Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh affiliation.

Glasgow's 2022 Census profile shows a substantial shift away from traditional Christian affiliation. No religion was the largest response at 43.23%, followed by Christianity at 38.72% and Islam at 7.86%. Hinduism accounted for 1.32%, Sikhism 0.56%, Buddhism 0.46%, Judaism 0.16%, Paganism 0.32% and other religions 0.29%; 7.10% did not state a religion. Christianity remains culturally important, particularly through Roman Catholic and Church of Scotland traditions, but no religion is now the largest single response in Glasgow.

Edinburgh is one of Scotland's most secular local authorities. In the 2022 Census, 56.35% of residents reported no religion, compared with 30.10% identifying as Christian. Islam was the largest non-Christian religion at 3.50%, followed by Hinduism at 1.64%, Buddhism at 0.54%, Paganism at 0.40%, Sikhism at 0.27%, Judaism at 0.25% and other religions at 0.32%; 6.62% did not state a religion. The city's no-religion population increased substantially from 44.83% in 2011, while Christian affiliation fell from 43.34%.

Belfast remains predominantly Christian by current religious affiliation, but its 2021 Census profile is more diverse and less religious than the traditional community-background figures can suggest. Current religion data show 42.3% Catholic and 37.4% Protestant or other Christian, giving 79.7% Christian overall. A further 17.4% reported no religion, 1.3% reported another religion and 1.6% did not state a religion. Belfast's largest non-Christian communities include Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Sikhs and Jews. For community-background analysis, a separate Census measure records a higher combined Christian upbringing figure, so it should not be presented as current religious affiliation.

Bristol is one of England's most secular major cities. In the 2021 Census, 51.4% of residents reported no religion, the largest response by a wide margin, while 32.2% identified as Christian and 6.7% as Muslim. Hinduism accounted for 0.8%, Buddhism 0.6%, Sikhism 0.5%, Judaism 0.3% and other religions 0.8%; 6.9% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Bristol's no-religion share increased sharply from 37.4% in 2011, while Christian affiliation fell from 46.8%.

Sheffield has a large non-religious population alongside substantial Christian and Muslim communities. In the 2021 Census, 43.4% of residents reported no religion, making it the largest response, while 38.5% identified as Christian and 10.3% as Muslim. Hinduism accounted for 0.7%, Buddhism 0.4%, Sikhism 0.2%, Judaism 0.1% and other religions 0.5%; 6.0% did not answer the voluntary religion question. The city's religious profile changed considerably between 2011 and 2021, with no religion increasing strongly and Christian affiliation falling.

Liverpool retains a strong Christian heritage but has become substantially less religiously affiliated than in previous censuses. In the 2021 Census, 57.3% of residents identified as Christian, 29.4% reported no religion and 5.3% identified as Muslim. Hinduism accounted for 0.8%, Buddhism 0.4%, Judaism 0.4%, Sikhism 0.1% and other religions 0.4%; 5.9% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Christian affiliation fell sharply from 71.0% in 2011, while no religion increased from 17.7% to 29.4%.

Newcastle upon Tyne has an unusually close balance between Christian and non-religious affiliation. In the 2021 Census, 41.3% of residents identified as Christian and 40.8% reported no religion, while 9.0% identified as Muslim. Hinduism accounted for 1.4%, Sikhism 0.5%, Buddhism 0.5%, Judaism 0.2% and other religions 0.4%; 6.0% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Since 2011, the city's no-religion share has risen sharply while Christian affiliation has fallen substantially.

Nottingham has a strongly secular and highly diverse religious profile. In the 2021 Census, 41.2% of residents reported no religion, making it the largest response, while 34.7% identified as Christian and 12.2% as Muslim. Hinduism accounted for 1.7%, Sikhism 1.3%, Buddhism 0.5%, Judaism 0.3% and other religions 0.7%; 7.4% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Since 2011, no religion has increased substantially while Christian affiliation has fallen, and Muslim, Hindu and other minority-faith populations have grown.

Coventry has one of the most distinctive religious profiles among large English cities, combining a large Christian population with substantial Sikh, Muslim and Hindu communities. In the 2021 Census, 43.9% of residents identified as Christian, 29.6% reported no religion and 10.4% identified as Muslim. Sikhism accounted for 5.0% and Hinduism for 4.0%, followed by Buddhism at 0.4%, Judaism at 0.1% and other religions at 0.6%; 6.1% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Coventry's Sikh and Hindu shares are particularly high compared with the West Midlands and England overall.

Luton has one of the most distinctive religious profiles in England, with Christianity and Islam both representing very large shares of the population. In the 2021 Census, 37.9% of Luton residents identified as Christian, 32.9% as Muslim and 17.6% reported no religion. Hinduism accounted for 3.3%, Sikhism 1.3%, Buddhism 0.3%, Judaism 0.1% and other religions 0.5%; 6.1% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Luton had the fourth-highest Muslim proportion of any local authority in England and Wales in 2021.

Slough has one of the UK's most distinctive religious profiles, with very large Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities alongside Christianity. In the 2021 Census, 32.0% of residents identified as Christian, 29.4% as Muslim, 11.3% as Sikh, 7.8% as Hindu and 13.1% reported no religion. Buddhism accounted for 0.5%, Judaism 0.1% and other religions 0.5%; 5.4% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Slough's Muslim, Sikh and Hindu shares are all substantially above the England averages, while its no-religion share is far below the national figure.

Wolverhampton has one of the UK's most distinctive Sikh population profiles alongside a substantial Christian population and significant Muslim and Hindu communities. In the 2021 Census, 43.8% of residents identified as Christian, 27.8% reported no religion and 12.0% identified as Sikh. Islam accounted for 5.5%, Hinduism 3.7%, Buddhism 0.3%, Judaism rounded to 0.0%, and other religions 1.2%; 5.5% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Wolverhampton had the highest Sikh population proportion of any local authority in England and Wales in the 2021 Census.

Southampton has a predominantly non-religious population alongside a substantial Christian community and established Muslim, Sikh and Hindu communities. In the 2021 Census, 43.4% of residents reported no religion, 40.1% identified as Christian and 5.6% as Muslim. Sikhism accounted for 1.7%, Hinduism 1.3%, Buddhism 0.5%, Judaism 0.1% and other religions 0.7%; 6.6% did not answer the voluntary religion question. No religion was the most common response, increasing from 33.5% in 2011, while Christian affiliation fell from 51.5%.

Cambridge is strongly secular while retaining a substantial Christian community and a broad range of minority faiths. In the 2021 Census, 44.7% of residents reported no religion, 35.2% identified as Christian and 5.1% as Muslim. Hinduism accounted for 2.3%, Buddhism 1.1%, Judaism 0.7%, other religions 0.8% and Sikhism 0.2%; 9.8% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Cambridge's no-religion share rose substantially from 37.8% in 2011, while Christian affiliation fell from 44.8%. Its Hindu and Buddhist shares are notably above the England averages.

Oxford has a strongly secular religious profile alongside a substantial Christian population and a diverse range of minority faith communities. In the 2021 Census, 39.0% of residents reported no religion, making it the largest single response, while 38.1% identified as Christian and 8.7% as Muslim. Hinduism accounted for 1.6%, Judaism 0.7%, Buddhism 0.7%, Sikhism 0.4% and other religions 0.9%; 9.9% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Compared with 2011, no religion increased substantially while Christian affiliation declined.

Harrow has one of the most distinctive religious profiles of any London borough and is the local authority with the highest Hindu population proportion in England and Wales (25.8%). In the 2021 Census, 33.9% of residents identified as Christian, 25.8% as Hindu, 15.9% as Muslim and 10.6% reported no religion. Judaism accounted for 2.8%, Buddhism 1.1%, Sikhism 1.1%, Jainism 2.4% and other religions 2.9%; 5.9% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Harrow's Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Jain communities are exceptionally prominent compared with national averages.

Tower Hamlets has one of the most distinctive religious profiles in England and Wales and recorded the highest Muslim population proportion of any local authority in the 2021 Census (39.9%). Muslims accounted for 39.9% of residents, followed by no religion at 26.6% and Christianity at 22.3%. Hinduism accounted for 2.0%, Buddhism 1.0%, Judaism 0.4%, Sikhism 0.3% and other religions 0.5%; 6.9% did not answer the voluntary religion question. The Muslim share rose from 38.0% in 2011, while Christian affiliation fell from 29.8%.

Blackburn with Darwen has one of the highest Muslim population proportions in England and Wales, while Christianity remains the largest broad affiliation by a small margin. In the 2021 Census, 38.0% of residents identified as Christian, 35.0% as Muslim and 21.1% reported no religion. Hinduism accounted for 0.3%, Buddhism 0.2%, Sikhism 0.1%, Judaism rounded to 0.0% and other religions 0.3%; 5.0% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Blackburn with Darwen had the second-highest Muslim population proportion among local authorities in England and Wales in 2021 after Tower Hamlets.

Barnet has one of the most distinctive religious profiles in London, with the borough's Jewish population particularly prominent (14.5%). In the 2021 Census, 36.6% of residents identified as Christian, 20.2% reported no religion, 14.5% identified as Jewish and 12.2% as Muslim. Hinduism accounted for 5.7%, Buddhism 1.1%, Sikhism 0.4% and other religions 1.3%; 8.0% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Barnet had the highest Jewish population proportion of any London borough and the second-highest Hindu population proportion in London after Harrow.

Reading has a broad and increasingly diverse religious profile, with Christianity and no religion accounting for the two largest groups. In the 2021 Census, 39.6% of residents identified as Christian, 36.3% reported no religion and 8.9% identified as Muslim. Hinduism accounted for 5.0%, Buddhism 1.7%, Sikhism 0.7%, Judaism 0.2% and other religions 0.7%; 6.9% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Reading's no-religion share increased substantially from 29.5% in 2011, while Christian affiliation fell from 50.0%.

Milton Keynes is a rapidly growing and highly diverse city in South East England. Christianity remained the largest religious affiliation in the 2021 Census at 42.8% (122,935 residents), while 38.0% reported no religion (108,953 residents). Muslim affiliation was 7.1% (20,484 residents) and Hindu affiliation 4.5% (12,911 residents), giving Milton Keynes a substantial multi-faith profile alongside Sikh, Buddhist, Jewish and other religious communities.

Brighton & Hove recorded the highest proportion of residents reporting no religion among all English local authorities in the 2021 Census at 55.2% (152,966 residents). Christianity was the largest religious affiliation at 30.9% (85,629 residents), while 3.1% identified as Muslim (8,500 residents). The city also maintains comparatively notable Buddhist (0.9%), Jewish (0.9%), and other-faith communities for the South East.

Derby has a notably diverse religious profile within the East Midlands. In the 2021 Census, Christianity was the largest reported religious affiliation at 40.2% (104,969 residents), followed closely by no religion at 36.6% (95,639 residents) and Islam at 11.1% (29,137 residents). Derby also maintains one of the UK's most prominent Sikh communities outside London and the West Midlands, with 3.7% of residents identifying as Sikh (9,762 residents), alongside established Hindu (1.2%), Buddhist, Jewish and other faith communities.

Bolton has one of the largest Muslim populations among local authorities in the North West, alongside a substantial Christian population and established Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist and Jewish communities. In the 2021 Census, 47.0% of residents identified as Christian (139,144 residents), 25.8% reported no religion (76,244 residents), and 19.9% identified as Muslim (58,997 residents, representing nearly 1 in 5 residents). Bolton's religious profile reflects both longstanding Christian heritage and decades of post-war migration, particularly from Gujarat, Pakistan, and South Asia.

Swansea is the second-largest city in Wales and a major regional centre for South West Wales. Its 2021 Census religious profile was led by no religion at 47.3% (112,687 residents), making it the most common response, though not an absolute majority. Christianity remained the largest named religious affiliation at 41.3% (98,492 residents), while Islam was the largest non-Christian religion at 3.2% (7,694 residents). The city also maintains established Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish and other faith communities alongside a large student population across two universities.

Aberdeen is Scotland's third-largest city and the hub of the UK's offshore energy economy. Its religious profile is predominantly non-religious, with 58.0% of residents reporting no religion in Scotland's 2022 Census (130,065 people). Christianity was the largest religious affiliation at 30.7% (comprising Church of Scotland 14.6%, Roman Catholic 8.6%, and other Christian traditions 7.5%), while Muslim affiliation was 2.9% and Hindu affiliation 1.3%. Aberdeen also maintains established Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Pagan and other religious communities.