Counting on Everyone

A demographic profile of the Christian population in England from the 2021 census

Published: February 2025

Authors: Nigel de Noronha, Centre on the Dynamics of Ethnicity

stained glass window from St Mary Redcliffe church in Bristol showing diverse neighbours

Commissioned by the Church of England as part of their work to ensure diversity and inclusivity in the Church, this report uses data from the 2021 census to outline on demographic changes in the population in England with specific regard to religion and ethnicity.

Download the report from the Church of England website. 

Key findings

  • There was a significant fall in the Christian population, from 37.3 million (72%) in 2001 to 26.2 million (46%) in 2021. At the same time the number of Muslims (1.5 million to 3.8 million), Hindus (0.5 million to 1 million) and those with no religion (7.2 million to 20.7 million) has more than doubled.
  • There has been a significant drop in the percentage of White British, White Irish and mixed ethnicity groups (eg in 2001 82% of White British respondents identified as Christian compared with 49% in 2021). Most other ethnic categories saw a more gradual decline. 
  • Across most ethnic categories, younger people are less likely to say they are Christian. 
  • Looking at migration history, some ethnic categories (White British, White other, Indian, Asian other and black African and Caribbean, recent arrivals are more likely to be Christian than those born in the UK)
  • Migration has contributed to the growth in the Christian population recently with 1.2 million Christians migrating to the UK between 2001 and 2011 and 1.9 million between 2011 and 2021 compared to only 0.4 million between 1991 and 2001. The majority of Christian migrants between 2011 and 2021 came from Europe. 
  • Regional data:
    • London: Around half of the residents of Havering and Bexley are Christian in contrast to Tower Hamlets (22%). In 23 of the 33 London Boroughs more than a quarter of respondents said they had no religion with 44% in the City of London and 41% in Islington. Muslims are the largest group in Tower Hamlets (40%), Newham (35%) and Redbridge (31%). In Harrow 26% of respondents said they were Hindu. There are higher proportions of Pakistani Christians in Islington and Kensington and Chelsea.
    • South East: in most of the South-East around half of respondents to the census said they were Christian. The areas which fell below this significantly were Brighton and Hove (31%), Slough (32%), Oxford (38%), Reading and Southampton (40%). Most of the areas reported around 40% with no religion with 55% in Brighton. The only exception was Slough where 26% of people reported being Muslim. There are higher proportions of Arab Christians in Adur and Brighton and Hove, and Pakistani Christians in Arun, Fareham, Horsham, Eastbourne, Reigate and Banstead, Bracknell Forest, Medway, Portsmouth and Tandridge.  
    • East of England: in most districts around half of respondents say they were Christian. Lower proportions were reported in Norwich (34%), Cambridge (35%) and Luton (38%). In most districts the number reporting no religion were between one third and one half of respondents. In Luton, 33% of respondents said they were Muslim. There are higher proportions of Arab Christians in East Cambridgeshire, Bangladeshi Christians in King’s Lynn and West Norfolk, and Pakistani Christians in Castle Point, King’s Lynn and West Norfolk and Central Bedfordshire.
    • East Midlands: in most districts around half of respondents were Christian. Leicester (35%), Oadby and Wigston (35%), Nottingham (35%) and Derby (40%) had lower proportions than the other districts. In most districts the number reporting no religion were between one third and one half of respondents. In Leicester, 23% of respondents were Muslim, 18% were Hindu and only 25% reported no religion. In Oadby and Wigston, a district bordering Leicester, 11% were Muslim, 10% were Hindu and 8% were Sikh. In Nottingham 12% were Muslim. There are higher proportions of Arab Christians in East Lindsay, and Pakistani Christians in Erewash and North Northamptonshire.
    • South-West:  in most districts around half of respondents were Christian. Bristol (32%) and Exeter (40%) had lower proportions than the other districts. Between one third and one half of respondents reported having no religion in all districts. There are higher proportions of Bangladeshi Christians in Teignbridge and East Devon, and Pakistani Christians in Wyre Forest, Herefordshire, South Somerset, Somerset West and Taunton, Dorset, Torbay, Bath and North-East
      Somerset, North Somerset, Wiltshire and South Gloucestershire.
    • West Midlands: in most districts around half of respondents were Christian. Birmingham (34%) and Sandwell (40%) had lower proportions than the other districts. In most districts the number reporting no religion were between one third and one half of respondents. In Birmingham (25%), Sandwell (26%), Wolverhampton (28%) and Walsall (30%) had lower proportions with no religion. In Birmingham (30%), Sandwell (13%), Walsall (11%) and Coventry (10%) were Muslim. In Sandwell (11%), Walsall (6%) and Coventry (5%) were Sikh. There are higher proportions of Bangladeshi Christians in
      Wolverhampton and Pakistani Christians in Nuneaton and Bedworth.
    • North West: in most districts around half of respondents were Christian. Knowsley (67%), Ribble Valley (66%), Copeland (65%), Sefton (64%), Wigan (63%) and Chorley, Fylde, South Ribble, St Helens and West Lancashire (all 62%) had higher proportions of Christians. Manchester (36%), Blackburn with Darwen (36%) and Pendle (39%) had lower proportions than the other districts. In most districts the number reporting no religion were between one quarter and one half of respondents.
      In Blackburn with Darwen (35%), Pendle (26%), Oldham (24%), Manchester (20%), Bolton (20%) and Rochdale (19%) were Muslims. There are higher proportions of Bangladeshi Christians in Cheshire, and Pakistani Christians in Wyre, Halton, Wirral,
      Sefton, South Ribble and Blackpool.
    • North East: in most districts around half of respondents were Christian. Newcastle (41%) had lower proportions than the other districts. In most districts the number reporting no religion were around 40%. Middlesborough (10%) and Newcastle (95) were Muslim.
    • Yorkshire and Humber: in most districts around half of respondents were Christian. Bradford (33%), Sheffield (38%), Kirklees (39%) and Kingston upon Hull (40%) had lower proportions than the other districts. In most districts the number reporting no religion were between one third and one half of respondents. Bradford (28%) had lower proportions with no religion. In Bradford (31%), Kirklees (18%), Calderdale (10%) and Sheffield (10%) were Muslim. There are higher proportions of Bangladeshi Christians in York and Pakistani Christians in Scarborough and Barnsley.