Less than half of England and Wales population Christian, Census 2021 shows - BBC

For the archetypal clip less than fractional of radical successful England and Wales picture themselves arsenic Christian, the Census 2021 has revealed.

The proportionality of radical who said they were Christian was 46.2%, down from 59.3% successful the past census successful 2011.

In opposition the fig who said they had nary religion accrued to 37.2% of the population, up from a quarter.

Those identifying arsenic Muslim roseate from 4.9% successful 2011 to 6.5% past year.

People were besides asked astir their taste radical and nationalist individuality - the responses of which were released in the results conscionable published.

The census is carried retired each 10 years by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

People were asked the wide question what their religion was alternatively than being asked much specifically astir their beliefs oregon spiritual practices, successful the voluntary question included successful the census since 2001.

Ticking "no religion" does not mean having nary beliefs, says Prof Linda Woodhead, from King's College London.

"Some volition beryllium atheist, a batch volition beryllium agnostic - they conscionable say, 'I don't truly know' - and immoderate volition beryllium spiritual and beryllium doing spiritual things." she said.

Separately erstwhile radical were asked astir their taste group, 81.7% of residents successful England and Wales identified arsenic White, down from 86.0% a decennary earlier, according to the census.

And 74.4% of the full colonisation identified arsenic White arsenic good arsenic English, Welsh, Scottish, Northern Irish oregon British.

The adjacent astir communal taste radical was Asian, Asian British oregon Asian Welsh accounting for 9.3% of the wide colonisation - 5.5 cardinal people, up from 4.2 million.

The fig of radical identifying arsenic Black, Black British, Black Welsh, Caribbean oregon African was 2.5% of the population, up from 1.8%, taking the fig from 990,000 to 1.5 million.

One successful 10 of households crossed England and Wales are present made up of radical from 2 oregon much antithetic taste groups - an summation from 8.7%.

And Luton, Birmingham and Leicester. are among 14 areas successful England wherever radical identifying arsenic White are present successful the minority.

In presumption of nationalist identity, among those who described it arsenic not being the UK, the astir communal effect was Polish, followed by Romanian.

It whitethorn consciousness similar a pivotal moment, with the census showing less than fractional of radical successful England and Wales identifying arsenic Christian, but for years societal surveys person shown a accelerated emergence successful those who specify themselves arsenic having nary religion, often reporting that arsenic the largest class - that is not the lawsuit successful the census data.

With its precise elemental optional question, "What is your religion?", the census does not exemplify the scope of 22.2 cardinal radical successful the "no religion" category; from those who bash not judge successful deity astatine each to those who bash successful immoderate form, oregon judge successful the powerfulness of supplication and an afterlife oregon are spiritual successful immoderate way.

The inclination distant from religion is not thing that is reflected successful large non-Christian religions which each saw a rise, with much than 1.2 cardinal much radical identifying arsenic Muslim successful England and Wales successful 2021 arsenic compared to 2011. As with ethnicity, patterns of household size and migration are seen arsenic contributory factors.

Of those who chose to constitute successful their reply nether the "any different religion" option, the largest radical identified arsenic Pagan, with a tenfold emergence from 2011 successful those identifying themselves arsenic Shaman.

In presumption of religion, London is the astir religiously divers portion of England, with conscionable implicit 25.3% of radical reporting a religion different than Christianity.

And south-west England is shown to beryllium the slightest religiously divers region, with 3.2% selecting a religion different than Christian.

The figures besides showed differences successful nations - successful England alone, 37.2% of radical said they had nary religion, portion successful Wales this roseate to 46.5% from 32.1% successful 2011.

Following the announcement, the Archbishop of York said the state had "left down the epoch erstwhile galore radical astir automatically identified arsenic Christian".

The Most Rev Stephen Cottrell said: "It's not a large astonishment that the census shows less radical successful this state identifying arsenic Christian than successful the past, but it inactive throws down a situation to america not lone to spot that God volition physique his kingdom connected Earth but besides to play our portion successful making Christ known."

He said that, facing a cost-of-living situation and warfare successful Europe, radical inactive needed spiritual guidance, adding: "We volition beryllium determination for them, successful galore cases, providing nutrient and warmth."

Chief enforcement of Humanists UK Andrew Copson added the figures should beryllium a "wake-up telephone which prompts caller reconsiderations of the relation of religion successful society".

"No authorities successful Europe has specified a spiritual set-up arsenic we bash successful presumption of instrumentality and nationalist policy, portion astatine the aforesaid clip having specified a non-religious population."

The census explores however British nine is being shaped from people's answers to questions astir themselves, their household and their home.

The results assistance organisations marque decisions connected readying and backing nationalist services including transport, acquisition and healthcare.

The 2021 survey, carried retired connected March 21 past year, was filled retired by much than 24 cardinal households crossed England and Wales. More information from the census is acceptable to beryllium published successful stages implicit the adjacent 2 years.

Scotland's census was owed to instrumentality spot successful 2021 but was delayed by a twelvemonth owed to the Covid pandemic.