Religion in Leeds
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%.
Religion Percentages in Leeds
Census 2011 to 2021 Demographic Trends
Community & Cultural Highlights
- Leeds's 2021 Census religious profile was dominated by two groups: 42.3% identified as Christian and 40.2% reported no religion.
- The 40.2% no-religion figure was up from 28.2% in 2011, an increase of 11.9 percentage points and the largest rise of any broad religious category in Leeds.
- Christian identification fell from 55.9% in 2011 to 42.3% in 2021, a decline of 13.6 percentage points.
- Islam was the largest non-Christian religion in Leeds at 7.8%, rising from 5.4% in 2011.
- Leeds's Muslim population increased by more than 22,000 between 2011 and 2021, according to Leeds City Council's analysis of the Census.
- The city's Sikh share remained at 1.2%, while Hindu affiliation increased from 0.9% to 1.1% and Jewish affiliation declined slightly from 0.9% to 0.8%.
- North Leeds, particularly around Moortown and Alwoodley, contains the city's primary Jewish community and institutional network, including established synagogues and community centers.
- Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue is on Street Lane in Moortown, not simply in an undefined 'Alwoodley' area; it is one of the major Orthodox synagogues in North Leeds.
- Leeds's Hindu population is smaller than the original entry's wording implied, at 1.1% rather than 1.2%. The Leeds Hindu Mandir is a significant institution in Burley.
- Chapeltown and Harehills are highly diverse inner-city neighbourhoods, but describing them simply as 'Afro-Caribbean and South Asian heritage hubs' understates their broader contemporary ethnic and cultural diversity.
- Leeds's religious and cultural landscape includes Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist and other faith communities alongside a very large secular or non-religious population.
Community Geographic Distributions in Leeds
North Leeds contains the city's main concentration of Jewish community institutions and residential areas. Beth Hamidrash Hagadol, Etz Chaim and United Hebrew Congregation are among the principal Orthodox Jewish institutions in the area.
Leeds's Muslim population is spread across several inner-city and south-eastern neighbourhoods, with particularly visible community, mosque and business networks in eastern and inner Leeds.
Leeds has a longstanding Sikh community supported by gurdwaras, community organisations and cultural events. Chapeltown Road is an important part of the city's Sikh community landscape.
Leeds's Hindu community is supported by the Leeds Hindu Mandir in Burley and a network of cultural organisations and festival groups across the city.
Chapeltown is a longstanding centre of African-Caribbean cultural life and community activity in Leeds, alongside its increasingly diverse South Asian and other migrant communities.
Leeds Religious Landscape & Demographic Analysis
According to official figures from the ONS Census 2021, Religion, England and Wales, Leeds (total population: 812,000 across Yorkshire and the Humber) exhibits a distinct religious profile. Christianity represents 42.3% of the population. A substantial 40.2% of residents report having no religious affiliation. The Muslim community comprises 7.8% of local residents. Hindu residents account for 1.1%. The Sikh population represents 1.2%.
Local Places of Worship & Community Centers
Spiritual and community life in Leeds is supported by recognized places of worship across various neighborhoods, including Leeds Minster (Anglican Minster located in City Centre), Leeds Grand Mosque (Mosque located in Woodhouse / Headingley area), Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue (Orthodox Jewish Synagogue located in Moortown / North Leeds), Leeds Hindu Mandir (Hindu Temple located in Burley), and Sikh Temple (Sikh Gurdwara located in Chapeltown).
Neighborhood & Diaspora Insights in Leeds
Leeds's 2021 Census religious profile was dominated by two groups: 42.3% identified as Christian and 40.2% reported no religion. The 40.2% no-religion figure was up from 28.2% in 2011, an increase of 11.9 percentage points and the largest rise of any broad religious category in Leeds. Christian identification fell from 55.9% in 2011 to 42.3% in 2021, a decline of 13.6 percentage points. Islam was the largest non-Christian religion in Leeds at 7.8%, rising from 5.4% in 2011. Leeds's Muslim population increased by more than 22,000 between 2011 and 2021, according to Leeds City Council's analysis of the Census. The city's Sikh share remained at 1.2%, while Hindu affiliation increased from 0.9% to 1.1% and Jewish affiliation declined slightly from 0.9% to 0.8%. North Leeds, particularly around Moortown and Alwoodley, contains the city's primary Jewish community and institutional network, including established synagogues and community centers. Beth Hamidrash Hagadol Synagogue is on Street Lane in Moortown, not simply in an undefined 'Alwoodley' area; it is one of the major Orthodox synagogues in North Leeds. Leeds's Hindu population is smaller than the original entry's wording implied, at 1.1% rather than 1.2%. The Leeds Hindu Mandir is a significant institution in Burley. Chapeltown and Harehills are highly diverse inner-city neighbourhoods, but describing them simply as 'Afro-Caribbean and South Asian heritage hubs' understates their broader contemporary ethnic and cultural diversity. Leeds's religious and cultural landscape includes Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Sikh, Hindu, Buddhist and other faith communities alongside a very large secular or non-religious population.
Practical Living & Community Guidance in Leeds
- •The ONS headline figure is around 812,000; use the rounded presentation in general content rather than inventing a more precise figure from the rounded ONS article.
- •The 40.2% reporting no religion is separate from the 5.8% who did not answer the voluntary religion question.
- •Census religion statistics describe self-identification and connection to a religion; they do not measure belief, observance or worship attendance.
- •These statistics apply to the Leeds local authority area, not to the wider West Yorkshire region.
- •Moortown and Alwoodley are important parts of the contemporary Jewish community, but the wider North Leeds area also includes significant institutions in surrounding neighbourhoods.
- •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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