Religion in Manchester
Manchester has a highly diverse religious and non-religious population. In the 2021 Census, 36.2% of residents identified as Christian, 32.4% reported no religion and 22.3% identified as Muslim. Smaller shares identified as Hindu (1.1%), Buddhist (0.6%), Sikh (0.5%), Jewish (0.5%) or another religion (0.5%); 5.9% did not answer the voluntary religion question. Compared with 2011, Christian affiliation declined markedly while both no religion and Muslim affiliation increased.
Religion Percentages in Manchester
Census 2011 to 2021 Demographic Trends
Community & Cultural Highlights
- Manchester's religious composition changed substantially between the 2011 and 2021 Censuses: Christian affiliation fell from 48.7% to 36.2%, while no religion rose from 25.3% to 32.4% and Muslim affiliation from 15.8% to 22.3%.
- No religion was the fastest-growing broad religious category in Manchester between 2011 and 2021, increasing by 7.1 percentage points.
- Longsight, Cheetham and Crumpsall were the three Manchester wards in which Muslims made up at least half of residents in 2021.
- Piccadilly, Deansgate, Ancoats & Beswick, Didsbury West and Chorlton were the five wards where no religion made up at least half of residents.
- Cheetham Hill has deep Jewish historical roots. Manchester City Council records Jewish settlement in the city from the late 18th century and identifies the former synagogue building now occupied by Manchester Jewish Museum as an important part of that history.
- Rusholme's Curry Mile on Wilmslow Road is a major South Asian and Middle Eastern food and cultural corridor, particularly known for restaurants, cafés, grocers and specialist retailers.
- Manchester's religious landscape extends beyond Christianity and Islam to established Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and Buddhist communities, as well as substantial numbers of residents who identify with no religion.
- Manchester Cathedral remains an important historic Christian institution in the city centre, while Manchester Central Mosque and Gita Bhavan illustrate the city's contemporary Muslim and Hindu institutional landscape.
Community Geographic Distributions in Manchester
Manchester's Muslim population is distributed across several inner-city and south-east areas. In the 2021 Census, Longsight, Cheetham and Crumpsall were the three wards where Muslims formed a majority of residents.
Manchester has a longstanding Jewish history dating back to at least the late 18th century. Cheetham Hill is particularly important historically, while the wider Jewish community extends into northern Greater Manchester.
Rusholme's Wilmslow Road corridor, widely known as the Curry Mile, is a major food, retail and cultural destination with strong South Asian and Middle Eastern influences.
Manchester's Hindu population is geographically dispersed, with Gita Bhavan in Whalley Range serving as an important Hindu religious and cultural institution.
Manchester has an established Sikh community supported by gurdwaras and community organisations across the city and wider Greater Manchester area.
Manchester Religious Landscape & Demographic Analysis
According to official figures from the ONS Census 2021, Religion, England and Wales, Manchester (total population: 551,938 across North West) exhibits a distinct religious profile. Christianity represents 36.2% of the population. A substantial 32.4% of residents report having no religious affiliation. The Muslim community comprises 22.3% of local residents. Hindu residents account for 1.1%. Buddhist residents represent 0.6%.
Local Places of Worship & Community Centers
Spiritual and community life in Manchester is supported by recognized places of worship across various neighborhoods, including Manchester Cathedral (Anglican Cathedral located in Victoria Street / City Centre), Manchester Central Mosque (Mosque located in Victoria Park), Didsbury Mosque (Mosque located in Didsbury), Gita Bhavan Hindu Temple (Hindu Temple located in Whalley Range), and Manchester Jewish Museum (Jewish Heritage and Community Institution located in Cheetham Hill).
Neighborhood & Diaspora Insights in Manchester
Manchester's religious composition changed substantially between the 2011 and 2021 Censuses: Christian affiliation fell from 48.7% to 36.2%, while no religion rose from 25.3% to 32.4% and Muslim affiliation from 15.8% to 22.3%. No religion was the fastest-growing broad religious category in Manchester between 2011 and 2021, increasing by 7.1 percentage points. Longsight, Cheetham and Crumpsall were the three Manchester wards in which Muslims made up at least half of residents in 2021. Piccadilly, Deansgate, Ancoats & Beswick, Didsbury West and Chorlton were the five wards where no religion made up at least half of residents. Cheetham Hill has deep Jewish historical roots. Manchester City Council records Jewish settlement in the city from the late 18th century and identifies the former synagogue building now occupied by Manchester Jewish Museum as an important part of that history. Rusholme's Curry Mile on Wilmslow Road is a major South Asian and Middle Eastern food and cultural corridor, particularly known for restaurants, cafés, grocers and specialist retailers. Manchester's religious landscape extends beyond Christianity and Islam to established Hindu, Sikh, Jewish and Buddhist communities, as well as substantial numbers of residents who identify with no religion. Manchester Cathedral remains an important historic Christian institution in the city centre, while Manchester Central Mosque and Gita Bhavan illustrate the city's contemporary Muslim and Hindu institutional landscape.
Practical Living & Community Guidance in Manchester
- •Census religion data identifies the religion with which people connect or identify and does not indicate whether they actively practise that faith.
- •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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