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Fact check: Which UK cities have the highest proportion of Muslim residents?
Executive Summary
Census 2021 shows that London boroughs and several northern towns feature the highest proportions of Muslim residents, while large cities such as Birmingham have the largest absolute Muslim populations. Differences in reporting (percentage vs absolute counts, local authority vs constituency) explain the divergent top‑lists in public sources, and recent analyses highlight both growth and regional concentration between 2011 and 2021 [1] [2] [3].
1. Bold claim: which places top the charts by percentage — and why the answers diverge
The clearest near‑contemporary measure of proportion comes from the ONS 2021 Religion release, which lists London’s Tower Hamlets as the local authority with the highest share of Muslims at 39.9%, followed by Blackburn with Darwen at 35.0% and Newham at 34.8%; this ranking treats each local authority’s population as the denominator and highlights dense pockets of Muslim residence [1]. Media and advocacy lists sometimes swap those names with larger cities because they conflate percentage with total numbers or use different geographic units (boroughs, local authorities, constituencies). The methodological difference — percentage of local population versus raw headcount — is the principal reason that seemingly contradictory lists appear in the public record [1] [2].
2. The other headline: where the largest Muslim populations live in raw numbers
When researchers report absolute numbers, Birmingham ranks first with roughly 341,811 Muslims recorded in 2021, followed by Bradford, Tower Hamlets, Manchester, and Newham — each with six‑figure Muslim populations — reflecting the larger population bases of major cities even if their Muslim share is lower than some London boroughs [2]. Statista and other compilations echo this distinction, noting Birmingham’s large Muslim population in absolute terms while also observing that inner London boroughs like Tower Hamlets and Newham have higher percentage shares [4] [2]. Presenting both counts and proportions is essential to avoid misleading impressions about demographic scale versus concentration.
3. Recent trends: growth between 2011 and 2021 and changing religious landscapes
Census‑based summaries and community analyses report substantial growth in the Muslim population between 2011 and 2021, with the Muslim population rising by about 1.16 million in England and Wales and accounting for a significant share of overall population increase; this reflects higher growth rates in Muslim communities alongside broader declines in those identifying as Christian and rises in “No religion” [2] [1]. Local shifts matter: some boroughs and towns have seen faster percentage growth due to migration, higher birth rates, and internal relocation, while large cities accumulate high absolute numbers through long‑standing immigrant communities and urban concentration. These trends were documented in the ONS census release published 29 November 2022 and followed in subsequent local analyses [1] [2].
4. Why numbers differ across reports: units, dates, and audience agendas
Public lists vary because they use different units of geography, time frames, and sometimes institutional perspectives. ONS releases (29 Nov 2022) provide consistent local authority and regional tables, while constituency‑level or older 2011 data produce different rankings; commercial sources like Statista compile and republish figures in ways that can emphasize absolute totals or percentages depending on audience demand [1] [4]. Research from community‑focused organizations stresses diversity within British Muslim populations — ethnicity, language, and institutional differences — which can drive different emphases: community groups may highlight areas of greatest cultural concentration, while media pieces often seek headline‑friendly “top 10” lists [5] [3]. These differing aims explain apparent contradictions and underline the need to read methodology notes.
5. Caveats, limitations, and what’s missing from most public lists
All sources rely on self‑reported census religion and administrative boundaries that can mask intra‑locality variation; a borough percentage conceals neighborhood differences and temporal mobility. The ONS 2021 data is the most authoritative recent baseline, but commercial summaries and later articles (including a 2025 roundup) may present derived percentages or estimates without full methodological transparency [1] [3]. Community researchers also emphasize that religion intersects with ethnicity, nativity, and socioeconomic status, so a pure percentage or count omits socioeconomic context, age structure, and migration histories that shape community presence and needs [5]. Any use of these rankings should state whether it refers to percentage share or absolute population and specify the geographic unit to avoid misleading conclusions [1] [2].