The largest religion in the United Kingdom is Christianity, with 46.2% of the population identifying as Christian in the 2021 Census. However, the UK is now one of Europe's most secular societies: 37.2% report no religion at all. Islam is the second-largest faith at 6.5% (around 3.9 million people), followed by Hinduism (1.7%), Sikhism (0.9%), Buddhism (0.5%), and Judaism (0.5%).
The Religious Landscape of the UK Today
The United Kingdom is home to roughly 67 million people, and its religious make-up has changed faster in the last two decades than in any comparable period of its history. The 2021 Census of England and Wales recorded the first time that fewer than half the population identified as Christian. This long, gradual shift toward secularism sits alongside genuine religious diversity, the legacy of centuries of immigration, empire, and reform.
The headline figures capture a society in transition: a culturally Christian majority that increasingly does not attend church, a fast-growing "no religion" group, and well-established minority faith communities concentrated in major cities. Understanding religion in the UK means looking not only at belief, but at history, geography, and public life.
Major Religions and Demographics
| Religion | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Christianity | 46.2% |
| No religion | 37.2% |
| Islam | 6.5% |
| Hinduism | 1.7% |
| Sikhism | 0.9% |
| Buddhism | 0.5% |
| Judaism | 0.5% |
According to the 2021 Census, 46.2% of the population of England and Wales identified as Christian, a steep decline from 59.3% in 2011 and 71.7% in 2001. Over the same period, those reporting no religion rose to 37.2%, up from 25.2% in 2011. Islam is now the second-largest religion at 6.5%, approximately 3.9 million people, having grown from 4.9% a decade earlier.
Hinduism accounts for 1.7%, Sikhism for 0.9%, Buddhism for 0.5%, and Judaism for 0.5%. These minority faiths are not evenly distributed: they cluster in and around large urban areas such as London, Leicester, Birmingham, and Bradford. Scotland and Northern Ireland have distinct religious profiles. Scotland is even more secular than England, while Northern Ireland retains a far stronger Christian identity, divided historically between Catholic and Protestant traditions that have shaped its politics for generations.
A History of Faith in Britain
Christianity reached Roman Britain by the 4th century and was firmly established after the mission of St Augustine to Canterbury in 597 AD. For nearly a thousand years, the British Isles were Roman Catholic. That changed dramatically in 1534, when Henry VIII broke from Rome and the Church of England was founded with the monarch at its head.
The English Reformation and the conflicts that followed shaped centuries of British history, including the dissolution of the monasteries, the religious turbulence under the Tudors, the English Civil War, and the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Distinctively British movements emerged from this Protestant tradition, including Methodism (under John Wesley), the Baptists, and the Quakers.
The modern era brought a second transformation. Immigration from former colonies, particularly from South Asia, the Caribbean, and Africa, accelerated after the 1950s and introduced large communities of Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs. The late 20th and early 21st centuries then saw rapid secularization, with church attendance falling sharply even as the country grew more religiously diverse overall.
Religious Sites and Landmarks
Britain's religious history is written into its landscape. Canterbury Cathedral in Kent is the mother church of the worldwide Anglican Communion and the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, a pilgrimage destination since the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170. Westminster Abbey in London has hosted royal coronations since 1066 and remains the spiritual stage of the British state. St Paul's Cathedral, rebuilt by Sir Christopher Wren after the Great Fire of 1666, still dominates the City of London skyline.
Beyond Christianity, the UK hosts some of Europe's most significant non-Christian places of worship. The London Central Mosque in Regent's Park is among the most prominent mosques in Western Europe. The BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in Neasden, north-west London, is an intricately carved Hindu temple built from Italian marble and Indian limestone. Sikh gurdwaras in Southall and across the West Midlands serve as both religious and community centres, while historic synagogues in London and Manchester anchor long-established Jewish communities.
Religion in Public and Daily Life
Despite falling attendance, Christianity remains woven into British culture and the machinery of the state. The Church of England is the established church, with the reigning monarch serving as its Supreme Governor and being crowned in a Christian ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Twenty-six Church of England bishops, the "Lords Spiritual," sit in the House of Lords. The Church of Scotland is the national church north of the border, though it is Presbyterian and not state-controlled.
The annual calendar still follows Christian rhythms: Christmas and Easter are public holidays observed nationwide. At the same time, Britain's multicultural cities celebrate a rich religious life. Leicester hosts one of the largest Diwali celebrations outside India, and cities such as Bradford and Birmingham have thriving mosque communities. Faith schools, including Church of England, Roman Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim institutions, educate roughly a third of all children. As traditional religion has declined, interest has grown in mindfulness, individual spirituality, and forms of belief outside organised institutions.
Key Facts
- Largest religion: Christianity, 46.2% of the population (2021 Census)
- No religion: 37.2%, the fastest-growing group
- Second-largest faith: Islam, 6.5% (about 3.9 million people)
- Established church: The Church of England, founded in 1534, with the monarch as Supreme Governor
- National church of Scotland: The Church of Scotland (Presbyterian)
- Religion in government: 26 Church of England bishops sit in the House of Lords
- Most diverse regions: London, Leicester, Birmingham, and Bradford
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main religion in the UK?
Christianity is the main religion in the UK, with 46.2% of people identifying as Christian in the 2021 Census. This is a sharp decline from 59.3% in 2011, and Christians no longer make up an outright majority of the population.
Is the UK a religious or secular country?
The UK is increasingly secular. More than a third of the population (37.2%) reports having no religion, one of the highest rates in Europe, and regular church attendance has fallen dramatically. However, the UK is not officially secular: the Church of England remains the established church, and Christianity is still embedded in state ceremonies and national holidays.
What is the second-largest religion in the UK?
Islam is the second-largest religion in the UK, accounting for 6.5% of the population, or roughly 3.9 million people. Muslim communities are largest in cities such as London, Birmingham, and Bradford.
Does the UK have an official state religion?
England has an established church, the Church of England, with the monarch as its Supreme Governor and 26 bishops sitting in the House of Lords. Scotland's national church is the Presbyterian Church of Scotland, while Wales and Northern Ireland have no established church, as the Anglican churches there were disestablished.
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