In a primary, lower than half of UK inhabitants is Christian: Census

The 10-yearly census carried out in 2021 confirmed speedy development for the Muslim inhabitants, however “no religion” was the second commonest response after Christian, the Office for National Statistics mentioned.

Christian observance in England and Wales is falling, in accordance with the most recent UK census

By Agence France-Presse: For the primary time, lower than half of the inhabitants in England and Wales identifies as Christian, in accordance with census knowledge launched Tuesday.

The 10-yearly census carried out in 2021 confirmed speedy development for the Muslim inhabitants, however “no religion” was the second commonest response after Christian, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) mentioned.

In an more and more secular age, Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell mentioned it was no “great surprise” that the Christian proportion was declining over time.

But he mentioned that, going through a cost-of-living disaster and struggle in Europe, individuals nonetheless wanted non secular sustenance.

“We will be there for them, in many cases, providing food and warmth. And at Christmas millions of people will still come to our services,” mentioned the archbishop.

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“At the same time, we will be looking beyond our immediate surroundings, remembering we are part of a global faith, the largest movement on Earth and its greatest hope for a peaceful, sustainable future.”

The faith query was added to the UK census in 2001. It stays voluntary to reply, however totally 94.0 p.c of respondents did, in accordance with the ONS.

Some 27.5 million individuals or 46.2 p.c in England and Wales described themselves as Christian, down 13.1 proportion factors from 2011.

“No religion” rose by 12 factors to 37.2 p.c or 22.2 million, whereas Muslims stood at 3.9 million or 6.5 p.c of the inhabitants, up from 4.9 p.c earlier than.

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The subsequent commonest responses have been Hindu (1.0 million) and Sikh (524,000), whereas Buddhists overtook Jewish individuals (273,000 to 271,000).

The ONS has been releasing key sections from final yr’s census piecemeal, and the most recent handled faith and ethnic identification.

Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are launched individually.

It discovered the variety of individuals in England and Wales figuring out their ethnic group as white had fallen by round 500,000 since 2011, from 86.0 p.c to 81.7 p.c.

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The proportion figuring out as white and from the British Isles stood at 74.4 p.c, down six factors from 2011.

The class of “other white” grew in a decade when Britain noticed continued immigration from jap Europe each earlier than and after its Brexit referendum in 2016.

But the ONS famous that respondents may additionally select from extra choices than in 2011, encouraging them to record different identities.

The second commonest ethnic group after white was “Asian, Asian British or Asian Welsh” at 9.3 p.c, up from 7.5 p.c a decade in the past.

Within that group, most respondents recognized their household heritage as Indian, adopted by Pakistani, “other Asian”, Bangladeshi and Chinese.

The subsequent largest ethnic group was the fast-growing African inhabitants, adopted by the Caribbean.

African evangelical church buildings have proliferated in London and elsewhere, offering some succour to the Christian share.

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Published On:

Nov 30, 2022