Religion in Blackburn with Darwen
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.
Religion Percentages in Blackburn with Darwen
Census 2011 to 2021 Demographic Trends
Community & Cultural Highlights
- Blackburn with Darwen recorded the second-highest Muslim population proportion in England and Wales in the 2021 Census at 35.0% (54,146 residents), behind only Tower Hamlets (39.9%).
- Muslim affiliation rose from 27.0% in 2011 to 35.0% in 2021, an increase of +8.0 percentage points (+14,275 residents) and the largest growth among the borough's faith groups.
- Christian affiliation fell from 52.6% in 2011 to 38.0% in 2021, a drop of -14.6 percentage points.
- The margin between Christianity (38.0%) and Islam (35.0%) narrowed to just 3.0 percentage points, one of the closest balances between the two traditions in the UK.
- No religion rose from 13.8% to 21.1% (+7.3 percentage points), but remains far below England's national benchmark of 36.7%, indicating that Blackburn with Darwen remains an unusually religious community.
- Blackburn Cathedral stands on a site with over 1,500 years of documented Christian worship and marks its centenary as a diocese cathedral in 2026.
- Blackburn is renowned across British Islam as a leading center of Islamic scholarship, featuring major traditional seminaries such as Blackburn Darul Uloom.
- The borough has a longstanding interfaith network supported by the Blackburn with Darwen Interfaith Forum, fostering civic cohesion between churches, mosques, gurdwaras, and educational institutions.
- The urban area of Blackburn contains the densest concentration of Muslim institutional life, whereas Darwen retains a predominantly Christian and secular demographic profile.
Community Geographic Distributions in Blackburn with Darwen
Blackburn's Muslim population is exceptionally large at borough level and is particularly concentrated in the urban Blackburn area, where mosques, Islamic schools, businesses and community organisations form a dense network.
The Pakistani community is central to Blackburn's contemporary demographic profile and is closely associated with the borough's large Muslim population, businesses, family networks and religious institutions.
South Asian communities have been established in the borough for decades and contribute strongly to religious, commercial, educational and cultural life.
Christian communities remain widespread throughout Blackburn with Darwen, with Anglican and other Christian churches continuing to provide worship and community services.
Blackburn with Darwen Religious Landscape & Demographic Analysis
According to official figures from the ONS Census 2021, Religion, England and Wales, Blackburn with Darwen (total population: 154,700 across North West) exhibits a distinct religious profile. Christianity represents 38% of the population. A substantial 21.1% of residents report having no religious affiliation. The Muslim community comprises 35% of local residents.
Local Places of Worship & Community Centers
Spiritual and community life in Blackburn with Darwen is supported by recognized places of worship across various neighborhoods, including Blackburn Cathedral (Anglican Cathedral located in Cathedral Close / Blackburn Town Centre), Masjid-e-Noor (Mosque and Islamic Community Centre located in Blackburn), Darwen Islamic Society / Darwen Jamia Mosque (Mosque and Islamic Community Centre located in Darwen), Blackburn Darul Uloom (Islamic Seminary and Community Institution located in Blackburn), Blackburn Central Mosque (Mosque located in Blackburn), and Guru Nanak Gurdwara (Sikh Gurdwara located in Blackburn).
Neighborhood & Diaspora Insights in Blackburn with Darwen
Blackburn with Darwen recorded the second-highest Muslim population proportion in England and Wales in the 2021 Census at 35.0% (54,146 residents), behind only Tower Hamlets (39.9%). Muslim affiliation rose from 27.0% in 2011 to 35.0% in 2021, an increase of +8.0 percentage points (+14,275 residents) and the largest growth among the borough's faith groups. Christian affiliation fell from 52.6% in 2011 to 38.0% in 2021, a drop of -14.6 percentage points. The margin between Christianity (38.0%) and Islam (35.0%) narrowed to just 3.0 percentage points, one of the closest balances between the two traditions in the UK. No religion rose from 13.8% to 21.1% (+7.3 percentage points), but remains far below England's national benchmark of 36.7%, indicating that Blackburn with Darwen remains an unusually religious community. Blackburn Cathedral stands on a site with over 1,500 years of documented Christian worship and marks its centenary as a diocese cathedral in 2026. Blackburn is renowned across British Islam as a leading center of Islamic scholarship, featuring major traditional seminaries such as Blackburn Darul Uloom. The borough has a longstanding interfaith network supported by the Blackburn with Darwen Interfaith Forum, fostering civic cohesion between churches, mosques, gurdwaras, and educational institutions. The urban area of Blackburn contains the densest concentration of Muslim institutional life, whereas Darwen retains a predominantly Christian and secular demographic profile.
Practical Living & Community Guidance in Blackburn with Darwen
- •The official rounded 2021 Census population is approximately 154,700 (154,739 exact).
- •The figures apply to the unitary authority of Blackburn with Darwen, encompassing both Blackburn and the town of Darwen.
- •Blackburn with Darwen was second-highest for Muslim population proportion among local authorities in England and Wales in 2021, after Tower Hamlets.
- •Census religion figures measure self-identified affiliation or cultural belonging rather than active worship attendance or religious observance.
- •The religion question in the UK Census is voluntary; respondents who chose not to answer are recorded separately under 'not answered' and are distinct from 'no religion'.
- •Halal, Kosher, and vegetarian food products are widely accessible in major supermarkets and independent community grocery stores across the city.
- •Under the UK Equality Act 2010, religious belief and practice are protected characteristics against discrimination in workplaces, education, and housing.
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