POPULATION 59,778,002
ANGLICAN (INCLUDING THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND) 39.4 percent
ROMAN CATHOLIC 12.5 percent
PRESBYTERIAN (INCLUDING THE CHURCH OF SCOTLAND) 5.5 percent
OTHER CHRISTIAN 8.2 percent
MUSLIM 2.7 percent
HINDU 1.0 percent
SIKH 0.6 percent
JEWISH 0.5 percent
BUDDHIST 0.3 percent
OTHER 0.3 percent
NO RELIGION 29.0 percent

Country Overview

Introduction

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland occupies most of the British Isles, which lie off the northwestern coast of mainland Europe. The country is composed of four territories—England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland—with distinct religious histories. Nearly 84 percent of the people live in England, which has one of the most religiously diverse populations in western Europe. Although the English heritage is predominantly Christian, there are substantial numbers of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jews, and Buddhists. The Church of England is the largest Christian denomination.

The largest religious group in Scotland is the (Presbyterian) Church of Scotland, but there is a substantial Catholic minority...