There has been a huge drop in the number of people who consider themselves Christians, falling to less than half of the UK population for the first time.
The Office for National Statistics has released the latest UK population data taken from the 2021 Census, showing changes since 2011.
About 46.2% said they were Christian, down from 59.3% in 2011.
The data also shows:
• Number of people using Romanian as their primary language increased from 0.1% to 0.8%
• Poles are still the most common non-UK people, Romanian is 2nd, Irish people have dropped from 2nd to 4th, Indians are 3rd.
• Among Londoners, 36.8% identify as White: England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or England – down from 44.9%
• 90.3% of the population chose at least one of the following identities: England, England, Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland or Cornish
• Increase the proportion of multi-ethnic households from 8.7% to 10.1%
Speaking of the changing statistics, the Archbishop of York said the country had “left behind an era when many people were almost automatically identified as Christians”.
Pastor Stephen Cottrell said the Catholic church will continue its work in the face of both “revival and decline”.
