Muslim Population in UK: 7 Amazing Facts, Ultimate Guide 2026
Muslim population in UK now stands at just under 4 million people, which is about 6% of all residents, according to the 2021 census counts for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the 2022 count for Scotland. That makes Islam the second largest religion in the country, behind only Christianity.
Whether you are a student, a journalist, a community leader or a curious neighbour, this guide explains the numbers in plain English. We compared figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), Anadolu Agency, The Muslim News and Eaalim Institute, then added history, practical context and guidance from the Quran and Sunnah.
Quick answer: The Muslim population in UK is about 4 million (roughly 6%). The MCB breaks this down as 3.8 million in England, 120,000 in Scotland, 67,000 in Wales and 11,000 in Northern Ireland. In England and Wales alone, 3.87 million Muslims were counted in 2021, a rise of 1.16 million since 2011.
Muslim Population in UK at a Glance
The United Kingdom does not run one single census. England and Wales are counted by the ONS, Scotland by National Records of Scotland and Northern Ireland by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. Adding the four counts together gives a UK total of 3,998,875 Muslims, which is close to 6.0% of the population.
| Nation | Muslims counted | Share of population |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 3,998,875 | About 6.0% |
| England | 3,801,186 | About 6.7% |
| Wales | 66,947 | About 2.2% |
| Scotland (2022) | 119,872 | About 2.2% |
| Northern Ireland | 10,870 | About 0.6% |
| England and Wales combined | 3,868,133 | 6.5% |
Sources: ONS Census 2021, National Records of Scotland, NISRA, and the MCB report summary. Rounded where sources differ slightly.
How the Muslim population in UK is counted
The religion question in the census is voluntary. The ONS explains that people choose from several tick box options, including "No religion", and that the answer reflects the religion someone connects or identifies with, whether or not they practise it. So the Muslim population in UK, as measured by the census, is a count of self identified Muslims, not of regular worshippers.
The same ONS note shows a close gender balance in England and Wales: 1,960,762 Muslim males and 1,907,371 Muslim females. You can read the full reply on the ONS Freedom of Information page on Muslims living in the UK.
How Fast the Muslim Population in UK Has Grown
The 2011 census recorded 2.71 million Muslims in England and Wales, or 4.8% of residents. By 2021 the figure had climbed to 3.87 million, or 6.5%. That is an increase of 1.16 million people, or 44%, in ten years, as reported by the Muslim News and the MCB.
The total population of England and Wales rose from 56.08 million to 59.60 million over the same decade. Muslims accounted for about 33% of that growth, which is much larger than their share of the population. Younger age profiles, higher birth rates in some families and migration all play a role.
The wider religious picture
The census also showed a major shift in religion overall. Christians fell below half of the population in England and Wales for the first time, at 46.2%, while people with no religion rose to about 37%. Islam remained the largest minority faith, followed by Hindus at about 1.7% and Sikhs at about 0.9%. The Muslim population in UK therefore grew while the country as a whole became less religiously uniform.
Is there a 2026 figure for the Muslim population in UK?
Not an official one. Census counts arrive every ten years, so the latest hard numbers still come from 2021 and 2022. Some publishers, including Eaalim Institute, estimate about 4.1 million Muslims in 2026 by adding growth since the census. Treat that as a reasonable projection, not a measured count. The MCB headline of 4 million is the safest round figure.
7 Amazing Facts About the Muslim Population in UK
Fact 1: Islam is the largest minority faith
No other non Christian religion comes close. With almost 4 million people, the Muslim population in UK outnumbers Hindus, Sikhs, Jews and Buddhists put together, according to the census tables compiled for the whole UK.
Fact 2: One in 15 people in England and Wales is Muslim
In 2011 Muslims were just under 1 in 20. In 2021 they were just under 1 in 15. That change happened inside a single decade.
Fact 3: Nearly half of British Muslims are under 25
The MCB found that 46% of Muslims are under 25, against 29% of the wider population. Muslims are also about 10% of all school age children in the UK, while only 5% of Muslims are over 65, compared with 19% nationally.
Fact 4: London is home to about 1.3 million Muslims
Roughly one in three members of the Muslim population in UK lives in the capital, and about 15% of Londoners are Muslim. Birmingham, Bradford, Manchester and parts of East London follow closely.
Fact 5: The community is far more diverse than many people think
About 66% of Muslims identify as Asian, 11% as Black and 6% as White, with smaller groups including Arab, mixed and Roma Muslims. Pakistani, Bangladeshi and Indian heritage are the largest strands, but Somali, Arab, Turkish, Bosnian, Albanian and convert communities are growing.
Fact 6: Men and women are almost evenly balanced
The ONS count shows 1,960,762 males and 1,907,371 females in England and Wales, a gap of under 55,000 people.
Fact 7: Faith infrastructure is substantial
Eaalim Institute estimates around 1,800 mosques, about 200 independent Muslim schools and roughly 30 state funded Muslim faith schools across the UK. These are estimates from a community source rather than official registers, but they show how settled the community has become. Read more about the role of mosques in our guide to the Islamic place of worship.
Where Muslims Live Across the UK
The Muslim population in UK is mostly urban. The MCB reports 1.3 million Muslims in London, 49,000 in Glasgow, 34,000 in Cardiff and about 5,500 in Belfast. Among English and Welsh local authorities, the ONS data reported by the Muslim News lists the five largest Muslim populations as follows.
| Rank | Local authority | Muslims (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birmingham | 341,811 |
| 2 | Bradford | 166,846 |
| 3 | Tower Hamlets | 123,912 |
| 4 | Manchester | 122,962 |
| 5 | Newham | 122,146 |
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Outside London, the Muslim population in UK is concentrated in the West Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire and the Humber. Wales has about 67,000 Muslims, concentrated in Cardiff and Newport. Scotland recorded 119,872 Muslims in 2022, up from 76,737 in 2011, with Glasgow the main centre. Northern Ireland counted 10,870 Muslims, almost triple the 3,832 recorded in 2011.
Smaller cities with big universities, such as Cambridge, Oxford, Bristol and Leicester, also have growing Muslim communities. Students who need local timings can use our Islamic prayer times finder or check the Islamic date today in the UK.
Age, Ethnicity and Diversity Inside the Muslim Population in UK
Age is the single most striking feature of the Muslim population in UK. Eaalim Institute, citing ONS data, puts the median age of British Muslims at 27, compared with about 40 for the general population. The MCB describes this young profile as a possible "demographic dividend" because it can help ease the pressure of an ageing society and labour shortages.
Ethnic and linguistic variety
Two thirds of British Muslims identify as Asian, but the remaining third is wide ranging. The 2021 census also showed that Punjabi and Urdu are now the fifth and sixth most spoken languages in England and Wales, with 291,000 and 270,000 speakers. Many Muslim families switch between English, Urdu, Bengali, Arabic, Somali and Turkish at home.
Converts and new arrivals
Eaalim Institute cites an estimate of about 120,000 converts, with slightly more women than men. Since 2000, refugees and migrants from Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Sudan, and from Eastern Europe, have added new strands to an already varied community.
Education, Work and Deprivation
The numbers on the Muslim population in UK tell a story of progress alongside persistent barriers. The MCB report, covered by Anadolu Agency, found the following.
- Education is rising. Among Muslims aged 16 to 24, degree level qualifications grew from 11% in 2001 to 21% in 2021.
- More Muslim women are working. Employment among Muslim women rose from 20% to 31% over the same period.
- A glass ceiling may remain. About 6.5% of Muslims work in higher professional jobs, below the national average of 9%.
- Deprivation is concentrated. Some 40% of Muslims in England live in the 46 most deprived local authority districts, which hold only 20% of England's population. The share has barely moved in twenty years.
- Health is mixed. Muslims report good health more often overall because they are younger, but older Muslims report poorer health than older people in the general population.
The ONS figures reported by the Muslim News add that 61% of Muslims in England and Wales live in the poorest 40% of areas. For anyone planning charity or community support, this is where giving matters most. You can work out your annual obligation with our Zakat calculator and learn the rules in our guide on what is Zakat. Principles for honest income are explained in our page on halal earning.
A Short History of Islam in Britain
The Muslim population in UK may look like a recent story, but contact is centuries old. Eaalim Institute notes that coins from the Mercian king Offa in the eighth century carried Arabic inscriptions, and that Queen Elizabeth I exchanged letters with Muslim rulers in Morocco and the Ottoman Empire.
Sailors, scholars and the first mosque
After the Suez Canal opened in 1869, Yemeni, Somali and Indian sailors settled in ports such as Cardiff, Liverpool and South Shields. In 1889 the English convert Abdullah Quilliam founded the Liverpool Mosque, often cited as the first purpose built mosque in Britain.
Postwar migration and settled families
After the Second World War, mills, foundries and transport networks recruited workers from Pakistan, especially Mirpur and Punjab, and from Bangladesh, especially Sylhet. Later immigration rules favoured family reunification, so single workers became settled families. Their British born children and grandchildren now make up the majority of the community. For wider background, see our overview of Islamic history and Islamic culture.
Mosques, Schools and Charities
As the Muslim population in UK has matured, so have its institutions. Most mosques are registered charities run by elected committees and serve several traditions, including Hanafi, Maliki, Shafii, Salafi and Shia communities. Weekend madrasahs teach Quran reading, Arabic and Islamic studies to a large number of children each week, and Islamic charities such as Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid and Penny Appeal operate internationally from British bases.
Daily practice fits into working life through the Equality Act 2010, which expects reasonable adjustments for religious observance. Many workplaces now offer prayer rooms. Muslims learning the basics can start with our guides to Salah, fasting and Ramadan.
Civic and political influence
The MCB estimates that the Muslim population in UK could matter in 49 parliamentary constituencies by 2029, where the Muslim voting age population exceeds the 2024 winning margin by at least 10,000 votes. The MCB itself warns against treating Muslim voters as one bloc, because priorities differ widely between communities, ages and regions.
Guidance from the Quran and Hadith for Muslims in Britain
Numbers matter, but so does conduct. For the Muslim population in UK, and for Muslims living as a minority anywhere, the Quran and Sunnah offer clear principles on diversity, justice and good neighbourliness.
Diversity is by design. Allah says that He created people as nations and tribes so that they may know one another, and that the most honoured before Him is the most God conscious.
Quran, Surah Al Hujurat 49:13
Kindness and fairness to peaceful neighbours. Allah does not forbid you from being kind and just to those who do not fight you over religion or drive you from your homes.
Quran, Surah Al Mumtahanah 60:8
Cooperate on good. Muslims are told to help one another in righteousness and piety, and not in sin and aggression.
Quran, Surah Al Maidah 5:2
A balanced community. The Quran describes the Muslim community as a middle, balanced nation that bears witness to humanity.
Quran, Surah Al Baqarah 2:143
Hadith on neighbours, sincerity and brotherhood
- Love for others. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that none of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself. (Sahih al Bukhari 13, Sahih Muslim 45)
- Respect for neighbours. He said that Jibril kept advising him about the neighbour until he thought the neighbour would be made an heir. (Sahih al Bukhari 6014, Sahih Muslim 2624)
- Sincere advice. He taught that religion is sincere counsel, for Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims and their common people. (Sahih Muslim 55)
History offers a precedent too. When early Muslims in Makkah faced persecution, some migrated to Abyssinia, where the Christian king Najashi protected them. Many scholars point to this event as an example of Muslims living safely under a non Muslim ruler. To explore the Prophet's life further, read our page on the Prophet Muhammad.
What the Future of the Muslim Population in UK May Look Like
Projections vary a great deal because they depend on migration and birth rate assumptions. Eaalim Institute, referring to Pew Research Center scenarios, notes a range from about 9% to 13% of the population by 2050. That is a wide spread and should be read as a scenario, not a forecast. The next census will give a much firmer picture.
Three trends are already clear for the Muslim population in UK:
- A British born majority. Most Muslim children are now born in the UK, and identity is increasingly shaped locally rather than by heritage alone.
- More education and employment. Degree attainment and women's employment are climbing, though gaps in higher professional jobs remain.
- Geographic spread. While deprivation is still concentrated in a few districts, the community is slowly dispersing beyond traditional urban centres.
How to use Muslim population in UK statistics well
- Quote the exact source and year, for example "ONS Census 2021", rather than rounding up.
- Separate the census count (self identified Muslims) from measures of practice.
- Remember that England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are counted separately.
- Avoid treating 4.1 million for 2026 as an official figure.
For global context, compare these numbers with our guides on the Muslim population in the world and Muslim countries.
Test what you have learned. Take our Islamic quiz or explore the Five Pillars of Islam.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Muslim Population in UK
What is the Muslim population in UK?
The Muslim population in UK is just under 4 million people, about 6% of residents. The MCB reports roughly 3.8 million in England, 120,000 in Scotland, 67,000 in Wales and 11,000 in Northern Ireland, based on the 2021 and 2022 censuses.
What percentage of the UK is Muslim?
About 6% of the UK population is Muslim. In England and Wales alone, the 2021 census recorded 3.87 million Muslims, or 6.5% of residents, up from 4.8% in 2011.
How fast is the Muslim population in UK growing?
In England and Wales the number of Muslims rose by 1.16 million, or 44%, between 2011 and 2021, from 2.71 million to 3.87 million. Muslims accounted for about a third of the total population growth in that decade.
Which UK city has the most Muslims?
London has the largest Muslim population, at about 1.3 million people. Among local authorities, Birmingham recorded the most Muslims in England and Wales at 341,811, followed by Bradford, Tower Hamlets, Manchester and Newham.
How young is the Muslim population in UK?
It is very young. The MCB reports that 46% of British Muslims are under 25, compared with 29% of the wider UK population, and only 5% are over 65, compared with 19% nationally.
Are there more Muslim men or women in England and Wales?
The 2021 census recorded 1,960,762 Muslim males and 1,907,371 Muslim females in England and Wales, so the two groups are close to balanced.
Is there an official Muslim population figure for 2026?
No. Census counts are taken every ten years, so the latest official figures date from 2021 and 2022. Figures such as 4.1 million for 2026 are estimates built on those counts and should be treated as projections.
Where do the Muslim population figures come from?
They come from the voluntary religion question in the census. The ONS covers England and Wales, National Records of Scotland covers Scotland, and the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency covers Northern Ireland.
Conclusion
The Muslim population in UK is large, young, diverse and growing, and it is now a permanent part of British life from Glasgow to Cardiff and from Belfast to Birmingham. The census shows real gains in education and employment, along with clear challenges in deprivation and representation. Reading the data carefully, and pairing it with the Quran's call to know one another and cooperate in goodness, helps all of us talk about this community with accuracy and respect.
Bookmark this page for the latest Muslim population in UK figures, because we will update it when new official numbers are released. May Allah guide us all to what is best.
Sources and Further Reading
- Muslim Council of Britain: British Muslims in Numbers, Census Report
- Anadolu Agency: UK Muslim population reaches 4M amid persistent inequality
- The Muslim News: Muslim and no religion population rise in England and Wales
- ONS: Muslims living in the UK (FOI response)
- ONS: Religion, England and Wales, Census 2021
- Eaalim Institute: How many Muslims in the UK
- Scotland's Census and NISRA (Northern Ireland)
Editorial note: Figures come from the sources above and may differ slightly by rounding or release date. Estimates for 2026 and 2050 are projections, not official counts. This article is for information and does not replace advice from a qualified scholar on religious rulings.