Religion in the 2021/22 Census
What questions were asked on Religion?
In England and Wales, a choice of seven answers including the option for no religion were included. There was also an‘other’ option which prompted a write-in response. In Scotland there were three Christian options (Church of Scotland, Roman Catholic and other Christian) and Pagan.
In Northern Ireland there were two questions one on what religion you belong to, the second on what religion you were brought up in. The stated options were all Christian with an ‘other’ write-in option. ‘None’ was placed below this. This question was not marked as voluntary unlike the other UK countries.
what religion do you belong to and what religion were
How do the questions transfer to variables and tables?
There will be summary categories in line with the question and a detailed small population table. The draft specification for England and Wales is shown below.
How does it compare to previous censuses?
The information is similar to the 2011 census
How does it compare across nations?
As outlined there are significant differences in the approach in Northern Ireland
What impact might the COVID pandemic have had on Religion?
None
Variables
Table 1 – religion (summary)
Code | Description |
1 | No religion |
2 | Christian |
3 | Buddhist |
4 | Hindu |
5 | Jewish |
6 | Muslim |
7 | Sikh |
8 | Other religion |
9 | Not stated |
-8 | Does not apply |
Table 2 – religion (detailed)
Code | Description |
1 | Christian |
2 | Buddhist |
3 | Hindu |
4 | Jewish |
5 | Muslim |
6 | Sikh |
No religion | |
7 | Alevi |
8 | Agnostic |
9 | Atheist |
10 | Free Thinker |
11 | Humanist |
12 | No religion |
13 | Realist |
Other religion | |
14 | Animism |
15 | Baha’i |
16 | Believe in God |
17 | Brahma Kumari |
18 | Chinese Religion |
19 | Church of All Religion |
20 | Confucianist |
21 | Deist |
22 | Druid |
23 | Druze |
24 | Eckankar |
25 | Heathen |
26 | Jain |
27 | Mixed Religion |
28 | Mysticism |
29 | Native American Church |
30 | New Age |
31 | Occult |
32 | Other religions |
33 | Own Belief System |
34 | Pagan |
35 | Pantheism |
36 | Rastafarian |
37 | Ravidassia |
38 | Reconstructionist |
39 | Satanism |
40 | Scientology |
41 | Shamanism |
42 | Shintoism |
43 | Spiritual |
44 | Spiritualist |
45 | Taoist |
46 | Theism |
47 | Thelemite |
48 | Traditional African Religion |
49 | Unification Church |
50 | Universalist |
51 | Valmiki |
52 | Vodun |
53 | Wicca |
54 | Witchcraft |
55 | Yazidi |
56 | Zoroastrian |
57 | Religion not stated |
-8 | Does not apply |