Fact check: How do Muslim population percentages vary across different regions of the UK?

1. A clear growth story — Muslim population up sharply since 2011

Census-derived reports uniformly report a substantial rise in the Muslim population between 2011 and 2021, generally quantified as a 44% increase and placing Muslims at approximately 6.5% of England and Wales’s population, representing about 3.87 million people ^{[2] [3]}. These analyses emphasize that the uptick is not evenly distributed; growth is concentrated in both long-established urban centres and expanding communities beyond traditional hubs. The repeated citation of the 44% rise across sources indicates consensus on the scale of increase, although some background summaries cite slightly different percentages (see regional breakdowns) that merit cautious interpretation ^[1].

2. London still dominates, but dispersion is rising — new geography of settlement

Multiple accounts identify London as the single region with the largest Muslim share and the most religious diversity, but also stress increasing dispersion across England and Wales as communities spread into other regions and local authorities ^{[2] [1]}. Reports note that while London hosts the largest absolute numbers, substantial Muslim populations exist in the West Midlands, North West, and Yorkshire and the Humber, and that migration, internal moves, and demographic growth are expanding presence in smaller towns and districts ^{[4] [1]}. This shift matters for service provision and local politics, because dispersion changes where schools, mosques, and community services are needed.

3. Socioeconomic clustering — concentration in deprived districts draws attention

A recurring and striking claim is that 40% of the Muslim population resides in the most deprived fifth of local authority districts, highlighting a socioeconomic concentration that intersects with geography ^{[1] [3]}. Analysts and community organisations underscore that this concentration amplifies vulnerabilities around housing, employment, health and education, and that dispersion alone does not erase deprivation. The statistic appears in multiple briefings and is used to argue for targeted policy responses; however, the underlying measures of deprivation and local authority boundaries affect interpretation, and the figures come from different summaries that synthesize census and deprivation indices ^{[1] [3]}.

4. Internal diversity — religion, gender and community profiles vary

Reports emphasize that British Muslims are heterogeneous in ethnicity, birthplace, age and socioeconomic status, and that demographic details such as gendered population numbers are captured in the census follow-ups ^{[5] [6]}. One source provides a near-equal male-female split in the England and Wales census counts, with roughly 1.96 million males and 1.91 million females identifying as Muslim, underscoring both scale and demographic balance ^[6]. Community advocates use this diversity to caution against one-size-fits-all narratives and to press for differentiated policy and funding responses across neighbourhoods and service areas ^[5].

5. Minor discrepancies — percent totals and reporting framings

Some summaries cite 6.0% while others quote 6.5% for the Muslim share; this reflects differences in rounding, geographic framing, or secondary reporting rather than fundamental disagreement about growth ^{[4] [2]}. The primary ONS-based accounts and community reports converge on 6.5% and the 3.87 million headcount, with alternative summaries offering slightly different figures or broader UK-level statements ^{[2] [3] [4]}. Users should note that many briefings synthesize census tables into headline figures, and small variations can arise from including Scotland or Northern Ireland or from provisional versus final tabulations.

6. Who is reporting and what agendas matter — reading the sources

The main sources include official ONS-derived census releases and community-analytic reports, such as those from the Muslim Council of Britain; both frame the data through different lenses—statistical completeness versus advocacy and policy emphasis ^{[1] [2] [5]}. The ONS materials emphasize methodological rigor and regional breakdowns, while community reports highlight deprivation and service needs. Readers should treat both as valuable: official statistics supply consistent counts and trends, advocacy reports foreground lived impacts and policy priorities. Cross-referencing both reduces the risk of single-source framing.

7. What remains uncertain and where to look next

While the 2021 census-based picture is robust about numbers, nuanced local patterns, recent migration flows post-2021, and outcomes such as employment and health require supplemental, up-to-date analysis ^{[3] [1]}. The aggregate figures and deprivation flags indicate where targeted local research is needed—particularly in areas with rising Muslim populations outside historic urban centres. For policy planning and community support, combining ONS releases with local authority data and refreshed community surveys will clarify service needs and track whether dispersion reduces or exacerbates socioeconomic disparities ^{[2] [5]}.