What was the Muslim population in the UK at the most recent census and how has it changed since 2011?
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Executive summary
The 2021 Census counted roughly 3.9 million people identifying as Muslim in England and Wales (about 6.5% of that population), up from about 2.7 million in 2011 — an increase of roughly 1.16 million or about 44% in absolute terms (Muslim Council of Britain summary citing ONS figures) [1] [2]. Scotland and Northern Ireland reported much smaller Muslim totals in their separate 2021/2022 returns (Scotland ~119,872; Northern Ireland 10,870), meaning UK‑wide totals cited across sources cluster “just under 4 million” [3] [1] [4].
1. Growth at a glance: big percentage change, smaller national share
Census returns show the Muslim population in England and Wales rose from about 2.7 million in 2011 to roughly 3.9 million in 2021 — a rise of approximately 1.16 million people and near a 44% increase in headcount [1] [5]. That growth moved the Muslim share from about 4.9% in 2011 to around 6.5% of England and Wales in 2021, so the community grew substantially in absolute terms while remaining a single‑digit share of the population [6] [1].
2. How the UK total is described: “just under four million”
Reports and summaries variably present the UK Muslim total as “just under four million” or 3.9 million, reflecting that England and Wales account for the vast majority; Scotland’s separate 2021 census reported about 119,872 Muslims (2022 Scottish enumeration) and Northern Ireland reported 10,870, which together produce an all‑UK total clustered close to 3.9–3.87 million in cited materials [3] [1] [4].
3. Demography driving change: young population and births, plus migration
Analysts point to a youthful age profile, higher fertility and migration as drivers. The Muslim median age in England and Wales was 27 in 2021, with 84.5% of Muslims under 50, which amplifies natural increase; the Muslim Council of Britain and their reports also list immigration (family reunion, students, workers and displaced people) among factors behind the 2011–2021 rise [7] [8] [2].
4. Geography: concentrated but increasingly dispersed
The growth was geographically uneven. London remained the area with the largest Muslim population share (some boroughs above 30–39%), and cities such as Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester and Tower Hamlets registered some of the largest local Muslim populations, but commentators note Muslims have become more dispersed across England and Wales compared with a decade earlier [3] [5] [6].
5. Social and economic context flagged by ONS and community bodies
ONS analysis shows the Muslim group had distinct socioeconomic indicators in 2021: the lowest employment rate for ages 16–64 (51.4% vs 70.9% overall) and higher proportions living in social housing [9]. The Muslim Council of Britain emphasized that nearly 40% live in the most deprived fifth of local authorities and that the community accounted for about a third of population growth between 2011 and 2021 [1] [2].
6. Different sources, consistent headline but varied framing
Mainstream summaries (ONS releases and maps), community analyses (Muslim Council of Britain, Muslim Census) and media outlets all report the same headline increase but frame it differently: some stress demographic opportunity and contribution, others highlight concentrated deprivation and service needs [9] [2] [5]. Wikipedia summaries reflect the census numbers and local breakdowns but are secondary compendia of published figures [3] [4].
7. What these figures do not settle (limitations and open questions)
Census religion answers were voluntary and not everyone answered; variation across English, Welsh, Scottish and Northern Irish outputs means exact UK aggregation depends on which releases are combined — the available sources do not provide a single, unified UK Office for National Statistics table summing all constituent administrations in one line [7] [3]. Sources also differ slightly on rounded totals (3.80m vs 3.87–3.9m) because some cite England‑only, some England & Wales, and some include Scotland/Northern Ireland summaries [4] [1] [3].
8. Bottom line and why it matters
Census returns show the Muslim population in England and Wales rose by about 1.16 million between 2011 and 2021, reaching roughly 3.9 million (6.5% of England and Wales), contributing about one‑third of the overall population increase in the decade [1] [2]. This demographic shift has immediate implications for public services, urban policy and political representation and is interpreted differently by groups emphasizing opportunity, social need or integration challenges [9] [8] [5].