Religion in Coventry
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.
Religion Percentages in Coventry
Census 2011 to 2021 Demographic Trends
Community & Cultural Highlights
- Coventry recorded 43.9% Christian, 29.6% no religion, 10.4% Muslim, and 5.0% Sikh in the 2021 Census, with rich interfaith traditions centered around Coventry Cathedral.
- Christian affiliation fell from 53.7% in 2011 to 43.9% in 2021, while no religion increased from 23.0% to 29.6%.
- Muslim affiliation increased from 7.5% to 10.4%.
- Sikhism remained at 5.0% of Coventry's population, making Coventry's Sikh share more than five times the England average of 0.9%.
- Hindu affiliation increased from 3.5% to 4.0%, more than double the England average of 1.8%.
- Coventry's 5.0% Sikh and 4.0% Hindu shares make the city particularly distinctive within the West Midlands; both are substantially above regional and national averages.
- Foleshill and Longford are genuinely important religious-diversity centres. Coventry City Council's local analysis records 30.6% Muslim and 8.3% Sikh among residents in the combined area.
- The Muslim concentration is especially strong in Foleshill West and Foleshill East, where more than 45% of residents identified as Muslim in the 2021 local-area analysis.
- The Sikh profile is particularly pronounced farther north: Little Heath recorded 12.0% Sikh and Longford 11.0%.
- Coventry's ethnic and religious diversity is closely connected to international migration. In 2021, 27.9% of residents were born outside the UK, with India, Poland and Romania among the leading countries of birth.
- Polish, Panjabi and Romanian were Coventry's three most common main languages after English in the 2021 Census.
- The original wording that Foleshill and St Michael's wards house Coventry's Sikh, Hindu and Muslim communities is too imprecise: Foleshill is an important concentration, while St Michael's is not the appropriate shorthand for the city's overall South Asian religious geography.
- Coventry Cathedral's significance extends beyond its Christian identity. Its wartime destruction and subsequent reconciliation work have made it an internationally recognised centre for peacebuilding and reconciliation.
- The city has an unusually dense network of Sikh and Hindu institutions. Coventry City Council currently lists numerous Sikh gurdwaras and Hindu temples, reflecting the depth of its established South Asian faith communities.
Community Geographic Distributions in Coventry
Coventry has an unusually large Sikh population. Foleshill and Longford are particularly important community areas, and Coventry City Council records several neighbourhoods where Sikh affiliation is substantially above the city average.
Muslim communities are particularly concentrated in northern and inner-eastern Coventry. In the Foleshill and Longford area, Muslim residents accounted for 30.6%, with Foleshill West at 46.1% and Foleshill East at 45.6%.
Coventry's Hindu community is one of the strongest by proportion among major West Midlands cities. Hindu religious institutions include Shree Krishna Temple and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir.
Coventry's substantial South Asian population includes Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi and other communities, with strong religious, commercial and family networks in northern and eastern neighbourhoods.
Coventry Religious Landscape & Demographic Analysis
According to official figures from the ONS Census 2021, Religion, England and Wales, Coventry (total population: 345,324 across West Midlands) exhibits a distinct religious profile. Christianity represents 43.9% of the population. A substantial 29.6% of residents report having no religious affiliation. The Muslim community comprises 10.4% of local residents. Hindu residents account for 4%. The Sikh population represents 5%.
Local Places of Worship & Community Centers
Spiritual and community life in Coventry is supported by recognized places of worship across various neighborhoods, including Coventry Cathedral (Anglican Cathedral located in City Centre), Gurdwara Guru Nanak Parkash (Sikh Gurdwara located in Harnall Lane West / Foleshill), Eagle Street Mosque (Mosque located in City Centre / Hillfields), Shree Krishna Temple (Hindu Temple located in Foleshill), BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir Coventry (Hindu Mandir located in Heath Road), and St Mary's Guildhall / Medieval Christian Heritage (Historic Christian Civic Site located in City Centre).
Neighborhood & Diaspora Insights in Coventry
Coventry recorded 43.9% Christian, 29.6% no religion, 10.4% Muslim, and 5.0% Sikh in the 2021 Census, with rich interfaith traditions centered around Coventry Cathedral. Christian affiliation fell from 53.7% in 2011 to 43.9% in 2021, while no religion increased from 23.0% to 29.6%. Muslim affiliation increased from 7.5% to 10.4%. Sikhism remained at 5.0% of Coventry's population, making Coventry's Sikh share more than five times the England average of 0.9%. Hindu affiliation increased from 3.5% to 4.0%, more than double the England average of 1.8%. Coventry's 5.0% Sikh and 4.0% Hindu shares make the city particularly distinctive within the West Midlands; both are substantially above regional and national averages. Foleshill and Longford are genuinely important religious-diversity centres. Coventry City Council's local analysis records 30.6% Muslim and 8.3% Sikh among residents in the combined area. The Muslim concentration is especially strong in Foleshill West and Foleshill East, where more than 45% of residents identified as Muslim in the 2021 local-area analysis. The Sikh profile is particularly pronounced farther north: Little Heath recorded 12.0% Sikh and Longford 11.0%. Coventry's ethnic and religious diversity is closely connected to international migration. In 2021, 27.9% of residents were born outside the UK, with India, Poland and Romania among the leading countries of birth. Polish, Panjabi and Romanian were Coventry's three most common main languages after English in the 2021 Census. The original wording that Foleshill and St Michael's wards house Coventry's Sikh, Hindu and Muslim communities is too imprecise: Foleshill is an important concentration, while St Michael's is not the appropriate shorthand for the city's overall South Asian religious geography. Coventry Cathedral's significance extends beyond its Christian identity. Its wartime destruction and subsequent reconciliation work have made it an internationally recognised centre for peacebuilding and reconciliation. The city has an unusually dense network of Sikh and Hindu institutions. Coventry City Council currently lists numerous Sikh gurdwaras and Hindu temples, reflecting the depth of its established South Asian faith communities.
Practical Living & Community Guidance in Coventry
- •The religion question was voluntary.
- •Census religion statistics measure affiliation or identification rather than active worship or strength of belief.
- •The percentages apply to Coventry local authority, while neighbourhood figures come from Coventry City Council's Census 2021 local-area profiles.
- •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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