Census: Christians oldest main religion group in England & Wales

Christians are the oldest main religious group in England and Wales while the nonreligious are among the youngest, Census data shows.

Data on age and religion or belief collected in the 2021 Census, published today, has revealed the average Christian is 51 years old, compared with 40 years for the overall population of England and Wales. This is older than any of the other main religions recorded.

The age of Christians has increased by six years since the 2011 census.

The average age of those without a religion is 32. This is the second youngest of the main religion or belief groups recorded by the Census, after Islam. The average Muslim is 27 years old.

Data published last year showed that for the first time, less than half the population of England and Wales are Christian. Those with no religion are the second largest group.

Church of England attendance figures released in December revealed just 0.9% of England's population attend Sunday services – considerably smaller than the 46% of people who said they were Christian in the Census.

The archbishop of York recently stated the average age of CofE congregants is "61 — that is 21 years older than the average age in the population".

NSS: Church must be "dislodged and disestablished"

The National Secular Society has repeated calls for the Church of England to be disestablished in the wake of the Census data.

NSS head of campaigns Megan Manson said: "The Census data continues to lay bare the unsustainability of Christian privilege in England and Wales.

"Not only are Christian populations dwindling; they're getting older.

"Meanwhile, we're seeing a steady rise in the nonreligious – one of the youngest groups, considerably younger than the population average.

"It is more ludicrous than ever for Christianity, and the Church of England in particular, to remain lodged in our constitution, our parliament and our schools.

"It must be dislodged and disestablished."

The NSS is hosting a free online discussion on February 15th on the future of Church and state with Anglicans who support disestablishment. Find out more and book your place.

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