The demographics of England have been measured by the decennial national census since 1801, and are marked by centuries of population growth and urbanization.
Due to the lack of authoritative contemporary sources, estimates of the population of England for dates prior to the first census in 1801 vary considerably.
The population of England at the 2021 census was about 56,489,800
| Religion | Population (approx.) | % of England |
| Christianity | 26.2 million | 46.3% |
| No Religion | 20.7 million | 36.7% |
| Muslim | 3.8 million | 6.7% |
| Hindu | 1.0 million | 1.8% |
| Sikh | 520,000 | 0.9% |
| Jewish | 269,000 | 0.5% |
| Buddhist | 262,000 | 0.5% |
| Other Religions | 332,000 | 0.6% |
| Religion not stated | 3.4 million | 6.0% |
Understanding the Categories
1. English Catholics
The national census for England and Wales asks a broad question: "What is your religion?" with "Christian" as a single checkbox. It does not officially break down denominations (like Catholic vs. Anglican). However, independent surveys provide a clear picture:
Percentage: Estimated at approximately 8% to 10% of the English population.
Context: Roman Catholics make up a significant portion of the Christian identity, with high concentrations in North West England (particularly Liverpool and Manchester) and London.
2. English Muslims
Islam is the second-largest religion in England and is the fastest-growing religious group.
Percentage: 6.7% (up from 5.0% in 2011).
Context: The population is notably young and concentrated in urban centres. London has the highest proportion, where roughly 15% of residents identify as Muslim. Other significant populations are in the West Midlands and North West.
3. English Jews
The Jewish community has remained stable in its proportion of the population for several decades.
Percentage: 0.5%.
Context: Approximately 53.6% of the Jewish population in England and Wales lives in London. The community has a unique demographic footprint in the census, as many people identify as "Jewish" through both the religion question and the ethnic group question.
Regional Variations
Religious diversity is not spread evenly across the country. London remains the most religiously diverse region, with over 25% of residents reporting a religion other than Christian. In contrast, the North East and South West of England tend to have higher percentages of people identifying as either "Christian" or "No Religion."
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