Religion in Bradford
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.
Religion Percentages in Bradford
Census 2011 to 2021 Demographic Trends
Community & Cultural Highlights
- Bradford District's 2021 Census profile was unusually divided among three very large categories: Christian at 33.4%, Muslim at 30.5%, and no religion at 28.2%.
- Bradford recorded the highest Muslim proportion of the five West Yorkshire metropolitan districts in the 2021 Census and the fourth-highest Muslim proportion among all local authorities in England and Wales.
- Christian affiliation fell from 45.9% in 2011 to 33.4% in 2021, a decline of 12.5 percentage points.
- Muslim affiliation increased from 24.7% in 2011 to 30.5% in 2021, an increase of 5.8 percentage points.
- No religion increased from 20.7% in 2011 to 28.2% in 2021, a rise of 7.6 percentage points and the largest increase among Bradford's broad religious categories.
- Bradford's Asian or Asian British population increased from 26.8% in 2011 to 32.1% in 2021. Pakistani residents accounted for 25.5% of the district population, one of the highest local-authority proportions in England.
- The city's South Asian population is closely connected to Bradford's industrial history. Migration from the Indian subcontinent expanded during the post-war period, including recruitment into the textile and manufacturing economy.
- Bradford's textile history is especially important to the formation of its Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi communities, with immigration increasing from the 1950s as the city's mills employed workers from the Asian subcontinent.
- Bradford has developed a substantial contemporary cultural programme around South Asian heritage, literature, poetry, music, food, storytelling and community arts.
- Bradford South Asian Festival was established as a recurring cultural festival after its original 2020 programme and now combines an annual festival with year-round community arts and heritage activity.
- Bradford Literature Festival has developed into a major international cultural event. Its 2026 edition recorded more than 200,000 audience attendances across 762 events, demonstrating that Bradford's cultural identity extends well beyond religion and ethnicity.
Community Geographic Distributions in Bradford
Bradford's Muslim population is strongly concentrated in the urban core and several inner-city neighbourhoods. The district's Muslim share of 30.5% was the highest among the local authorities of West Yorkshire in the 2021 Census.
Bradford has a large South Asian population, including substantial Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi communities. The 2021 Census recorded 32.1% of the district's population as Asian or Asian British, with Pakistani residents alone accounting for 25.5%.
Bradford has a longstanding Sikh community supported by several gurdwaras and community organisations. Sikh affiliation represented 0.9% of the district population in 2021.
Hindu communities form a smaller but established part of Bradford's religious landscape, representing 0.9% of residents in the 2021 Census.
Bradford has a historically significant but comparatively small Jewish population. The 2021 Census counted 254 Jewish residents in the district.
Bradford Religious Landscape & Demographic Analysis
According to official figures from the ONS Census 2021, Religion, England and Wales, Bradford (total population: 546,400 across Yorkshire and the Humber) exhibits a distinct religious profile. Christianity represents 33.4% of the population. A substantial 28.2% of residents report having no religious affiliation. The Muslim community comprises 30.5% of local residents.
Local Places of Worship & Community Centers
Spiritual and community life in Bradford is supported by recognized places of worship across various neighborhoods, including Bradford Cathedral (Anglican Cathedral located in Bradford City Centre), Bradford Grand Mosque (Al-Jamia Suffa-Tul-Islam) (Mosque and Islamic Educational Institute located in Bradford 5 / Bradford 7, adjoining the City Centre), Guru Gobind Singh Gurdwara (Sikh Gurdwara located in Leeds Road), and Gurdwara Singh Sabha (Sikh Gurdwara located in Bradford).
Neighborhood & Diaspora Insights in Bradford
Bradford District's 2021 Census profile was unusually divided among three very large categories: Christian at 33.4%, Muslim at 30.5%, and no religion at 28.2%. Bradford recorded the highest Muslim proportion of the five West Yorkshire metropolitan districts in the 2021 Census and the fourth-highest Muslim proportion among all local authorities in England and Wales. Christian affiliation fell from 45.9% in 2011 to 33.4% in 2021, a decline of 12.5 percentage points. Muslim affiliation increased from 24.7% in 2011 to 30.5% in 2021, an increase of 5.8 percentage points. No religion increased from 20.7% in 2011 to 28.2% in 2021, a rise of 7.6 percentage points and the largest increase among Bradford's broad religious categories. Bradford's Asian or Asian British population increased from 26.8% in 2011 to 32.1% in 2021. Pakistani residents accounted for 25.5% of the district population, one of the highest local-authority proportions in England. The city's South Asian population is closely connected to Bradford's industrial history. Migration from the Indian subcontinent expanded during the post-war period, including recruitment into the textile and manufacturing economy. Bradford's textile history is especially important to the formation of its Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi communities, with immigration increasing from the 1950s as the city's mills employed workers from the Asian subcontinent. Bradford has developed a substantial contemporary cultural programme around South Asian heritage, literature, poetry, music, food, storytelling and community arts. Bradford South Asian Festival was established as a recurring cultural festival after its original 2020 programme and now combines an annual festival with year-round community arts and heritage activity. Bradford Literature Festival has developed into a major international cultural event. Its 2026 edition recorded more than 200,000 audience attendances across 762 events, demonstrating that Bradford's cultural identity extends well beyond religion and ethnicity.
Practical Living & Community Guidance in Bradford
- •The Census figures apply to Bradford Metropolitan District, the local-authority area, rather than only the built-up central Bradford urban area.
- •ONS presents Bradford's 2021 population at around 546,400 rather than requiring an exact whole-number figure in general-purpose summaries.
- •The 28.2% reporting no religion is separate from the 5.5% who did not answer the voluntary religion question.
- •Religion Census figures describe self-identification or affiliation and should not be interpreted as a measure of religious observance.
- •Bradford's present-day religious and ethnic diversity is strongly linked to its industrial textile economy and post-war migration from South Asia and elsewhere.
- •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.
International Money Transfer & FX Rates
Sending funds for tuition, rent, or immigration fees? Retail banks sneak 2.5%–4% into exchange rates. Check today's real mid-market rate first.
Newcomer & Expat Emergency Health Cover
Waiting for NHS, OHIP, or state healthcare to activate? Protect against uninsured hospital bills before your official health card arrives.