Sikhism in the United Kingdom

This article is about Sikhism in the United Kingdom as a whole. For Sikhism in each of its constituent countries, see Sikhism in England, Sikhism in Scotland, and Sikhism in Wales.
Sikhism in the United Kingdom
Guru Nanak Darbar Gurdwara in Gravesend
Total population
United Kingdom United Kingdom: 535,517 – 0.8% (2021)
England England: 520,092 – 0.9% (2021)[1]
Scotland Scotland: 10,988 – 0.2% (2022)[2]
Wales Wales: 4,048 – 0.1% (2021)[1]
Northern Ireland: 389 – 0.02% (2021)[3]
Regions with significant populations
West Midlands172,398 – 2.90%
London144,543 – 1.64%
South East74,348 – 0.80%
East Midlands53,950 – 1.11%
East24,284 – 0.38%
Languages
British English • Punjabi
Hindi • Urdu
Related ethnic groups

British Sikhs number over 535,000 people and account for 0.8% of the British population as of 2021, forming the United Kingdom's fourth-largest religious group. According to the 2021 United Kingdom census, British Sikhs numbered 535,517, with 520,092 in England, 10,988 in Scotland, 4,048 in Wales, and 389 in Northern Ireland.[4][2][5][6] The largest Sikh populations in the United Kingdom are in the West Midlands and Greater London.

Sikh Population History
in the United Kingdom[10]
YearPop.±%
19471,500—    
19517,000+366.7%
196116,000+128.6%
197172,000+350.0%
1981144,000+100.0%
1991206,000+43.1%
2001 336,149+63.2%
2011 432,429+28.6%
2021 535,517+23.8%
Religious Affiliation was not in the census recorded prior to 2001.
Source: Office for National Statistics
[11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]
  1. ^ a b "Religion, England and Wales: Census 2021". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Scotland's Census 2022 - Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion - Chart data". Scotland's Census. National Records of Scotland. 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024. Alternative URL 'Search data by location' > 'All of Scotland' > 'Ethnic group, national identity, language and religion' > 'Religion'
  3. ^ "MS-B21: Religion". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. 22 September 2022. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  4. ^ "Religion, England and Wales - Office for National Statistics". www.ons.gov.uk. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  5. ^ "Census 2021 main statistics religion tables". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency. 2022-09-07. Retrieved 2022-11-29.
  6. ^ "MS-B21: Religion - full detail". Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency.
  7. ^ Field, Clive (26 November 2022). Counting Religion in Britain, 1970-2020: Secularization in Statistical Context. Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780192849328.
  8. ^ Gale, Richard; Peach, Ceri (26 November 2022). "Muslims, Hindus, and Sikhs in the New Religious Landscape of England". Geographical Review. 93 (4): 469–490. JSTOR 30033938.
  9. ^ Singh, Gurharpal; Tatla, Darshan (26 November 2022). Sikhs in Britain: The Making of a Community. Zed Books. ISBN 9781842777176.
  10. ^ Figures for 1947, 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, and 1991 are estimates.[7][8][9]
  11. ^ "KS209EW (Religion) - Nomis - 2011". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  12. ^ "Scotland's Census 2011: Table KS209SCa" (PDF). scotlandcensus.gov.uk. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  13. ^ "Census 2011: Religion: KS211NI (administrative geographies)". nisra.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  14. ^ "Census 2011: Religion - Full Detail: QS218NI - Northern Ireland". nisra.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  15. ^ "KS007 - Religion - Nomis - 2001". www.nomisweb.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-10-18.
  16. ^ "Summary: Religious Group Demographics". scotland.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 22 January 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  17. ^ "Census 2001: Religion (administrative geographies)". nisra.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  18. ^ "Table KS07c: Religion (full list with 10 or more persons)". nisra.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2012.