Religion in Bristol
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%.
Religion Percentages in Bristol
Census 2011 to 2021 Demographic Trends
Community & Cultural Highlights
- Bristol is one of the UK's most secular major cities, with 51.4% reporting no religion in the 2021 Census, alongside 32.2% Christian and 6.7% Muslim.
- Bristol's 51.4% no-religion figure is correct and makes no religion the city's largest Census response. Bristol City Council identifies this as the third-highest proportion of any local authority in England after Brighton and Hove and Norwich.
- Christian affiliation fell from 46.8% in 2011 to 32.2% in 2021, a decline of 14.6 percentage points.
- No religion increased from 37.4% to 51.4%, a rise of 14.0 percentage points.
- Muslim affiliation increased from 5.1% to 6.7%, reaching 31,776 residents in 2021.
- Bristol City Council reports that more than 45 religions are represented in the city, reflecting diversity considerably broader than the eight categories normally shown in a short Census summary.
- Bristol was the first UK Core City in which more than half of residents reported no religion in the 2021 Census, with 51.4% selecting that response.
- Bristol's ethnic diversity is particularly pronounced in Inner City and East Bristol. Bristol City Council reports that 43.5% of residents in the Inner City and East locality belonged to an ethnic minority group in 2021.
- Somali residents were Bristol's largest detailed minority ethnic group in the 2021 Census, with 9,167 people, followed by Pakistani residents with 9,103 and Indian residents with 8,371.
- Easton and St Paul's are genuinely important multicultural areas, but their contemporary diversity is broader than a simple Somali, Afro-Caribbean and South Asian description and includes many other ethnicities, migration histories and faith communities.
- Bristol's Hindu Temple in Redfield has a distinctive East African migration history: the temple was established in 1979 by Hindu families, many of whom had migrated from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in the 1970s.
- Bristol's religious profile combines very high secular identification with established Christian institutions and growing or longstanding Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist and other communities.
Community Geographic Distributions in Bristol
Bristol's Muslim population is particularly visible across inner east Bristol and parts of south and central Bristol. The city has established Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Somali, Arab and other Muslim communities.
Bristol City Council's Census analysis identifies these four local areas as home to more than half of Bristol's Somali population, making the eastern and inner-city corridor particularly important to Bristol's Somali community.
Bristol has longstanding African and Caribbean communities, with St Paul's particularly important in the city's Black British cultural history and community life.
Pakistani, Indian and Bangladeshi communities contribute strongly to Bristol's cultural and religious landscape through businesses, community organisations, mosques, temples and gurdwaras.
Bristol has a longstanding Jewish community supported by the Bristol Hebrew Congregation and other community and cultural organisations.
Bristol Religious Landscape & Demographic Analysis
According to official figures from the ONS Census 2021, Religion, England and Wales, Bristol (total population: 472,465 across South West) exhibits a distinct religious profile. Christianity represents 32.2% of the population. A substantial 51.4% of residents report having no religious affiliation. The Muslim community comprises 6.7% of local residents. Buddhist residents represent 0.6%.
Local Places of Worship & Community Centers
Spiritual and community life in Bristol is supported by recognized places of worship across various neighborhoods, including Bristol Cathedral (Anglican Cathedral located in College Green), St Mary Redcliffe Church (Anglican Parish Church located in Redcliffe), Easton Jamia Masjid (Mosque and Community Centre located in Easton), Bristol Hindu Temple (Hindu Temple and Community Centre located in Redfield), Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha Bristol (Sikh Gurdwara located in St George / East Bristol), and Bristol Hebrew Congregation (Orthodox Jewish Synagogue located in Clifton).
Neighborhood & Diaspora Insights in Bristol
Bristol is one of the UK's most secular major cities, with 51.4% reporting no religion in the 2021 Census, alongside 32.2% Christian and 6.7% Muslim. Bristol's 51.4% no-religion figure is correct and makes no religion the city's largest Census response. Bristol City Council identifies this as the third-highest proportion of any local authority in England after Brighton and Hove and Norwich. Christian affiliation fell from 46.8% in 2011 to 32.2% in 2021, a decline of 14.6 percentage points. No religion increased from 37.4% to 51.4%, a rise of 14.0 percentage points. Muslim affiliation increased from 5.1% to 6.7%, reaching 31,776 residents in 2021. Bristol City Council reports that more than 45 religions are represented in the city, reflecting diversity considerably broader than the eight categories normally shown in a short Census summary. Bristol was the first UK Core City in which more than half of residents reported no religion in the 2021 Census, with 51.4% selecting that response. Bristol's ethnic diversity is particularly pronounced in Inner City and East Bristol. Bristol City Council reports that 43.5% of residents in the Inner City and East locality belonged to an ethnic minority group in 2021. Somali residents were Bristol's largest detailed minority ethnic group in the 2021 Census, with 9,167 people, followed by Pakistani residents with 9,103 and Indian residents with 8,371. Easton and St Paul's are genuinely important multicultural areas, but their contemporary diversity is broader than a simple Somali, Afro-Caribbean and South Asian description and includes many other ethnicities, migration histories and faith communities. Bristol's Hindu Temple in Redfield has a distinctive East African migration history: the temple was established in 1979 by Hindu families, many of whom had migrated from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania in the 1970s. Bristol's religious profile combines very high secular identification with established Christian institutions and growing or longstanding Muslim, Hindu, Jewish, Sikh, Buddhist and other communities.
Practical Living & Community Guidance in Bristol
- •The current mid-2025 Bristol population estimate is 495,300, but it should not replace the 2021 Census population when presenting Census religion percentages.
- •The 51.4% reporting no religion is separate from the 6.9% who did not answer the voluntary religion question.
- •Census religion data describe affiliation or identification and do not establish religious belief or active practice.
- •Bristol is one of the UK's 12 Core Cities and its 2021 no-religion share exceeded 50%.
- •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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