The recent census shows a landmark shift in population in England and Wales in Britain in which Islam has emerged as the second leading religion, according to data released today.
According to the 10-yearly census (carried out in 2021), the population of Muslims has shown a stunning growth from 2011 to 2021.
The data of census was released soon after Rishi Sunak became Britain’s first non-Christian and first Hindu prime minister.
According to the census, the population of Christians was declining, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.
About 27.5 million people, or 46.2% in England and Wales are Christians, 13.1 percentage points down from 2011.
The Muslims stood at 3.9 million or 6.5% of the population, up from 4.9% in 2011.
The next most common responses were Hindu (1.0 million) and Sikh (524,000), while Buddhists overtook Jewish people (273,000 and 271,000 respectively).
Stephen Cottrell, Archbishop of York said it was not a surprise that the Christians proportion was declining with the passage of time.
Archbishop, nonetheless, said that in view of a cost-of-living crisis and war in Europe, people must seek spiritual sustenance.
“We will be there for them, providing food and warmth. And at Christmas, millions of people will still come to our services,” Cottrell said.
“Iran is the only country in the world that has clerics voting in its legislature while none of the other countries seeks compulsory Christian worship in (non-religious) schools,” he said.
