A major study by the Muslim Council of Britain says British Muslims are younger, better educated and politically active
LONDON — A major new report released by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has revealed that the Muslim population in Britain has reached four million, while many Muslims continue to face poverty, economic hardship and unequal living conditions despite progress in education and public life.
The two-volume report, titled British Muslims in Numbers, was launched at Westminster City Hall on Wednesday. The 400-page study examines two decades of census data and presents a detailed picture of the demographic, social and economic position of Muslims across the United Kingdom.
The findings are based on the 2021 Census of England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, as well as the 2022 Census of Scotland. According to the report, Muslims now make up around six per cent of the total UK population.
England has the largest Muslim population, with around 3.8 million Muslims. Scotland has around 120,000 Muslims, while Wales has 67,000 and Northern Ireland has around 11,000.
The report stated that British Muslims are primarily concentrated in large cities. London alone is home to around 1.3 million Muslims. Cardiff has around 34,000 Muslims, Glasgow nearly 49,000 and Belfast has around 5,500.
Researchers involved in the study said the Muslim population in Britain remains highly diverse. Around 66 per cent of Muslims are from Asian backgrounds, 11 per cent are Black and six per cent are White.
Speaking after the launch, Wajid Akhter, Secretary General of the MCB, said the report had come at an important time following the recent local elections in Britain.
“This report gives a detailed picture of British Muslims and will help policy makers better understand issues related to health, education, employment and civic participation,” he said.
The report highlighted that Muslims in Britain are much younger than the wider population. Nearly 46 per cent of British Muslims are under the age of 25, compared with 29 per cent of the overall UK population.
It also found that 10 per cent of school children in the UK are Muslim. At the same time, only five per cent of Muslims are aged over 65.
Researchers said the younger age profile has helped produce generally positive health outcomes among Muslims. However, the report warned that older Muslims were more likely to suffer poor health compared with older people in the wider population.
One of the strongest findings in the report concerns economic inequality. According to the study, around 40 per cent of Muslims in England live in the country’s 46 most deprived districts, even though those areas account for only 20 per cent of England’s total population.
The report noted that this situation has remained largely unchanged over the last two decades, raising concerns about slow economic mobility and long-term deprivation affecting many Muslim families.
Community leaders said the findings show that many British Muslims continue to face barriers in housing, employment and public services despite making major contributions to British society.
The report also pointed to improvements in education over the past 20 years. Among Muslims aged between 16 and 24, the number holding university degrees rose from 11 per cent in 2001 to 21 per cent in 2021.
Employment among Muslim women also increased during the same period. According to the report, the employment rate for Muslim women rose from 20 per cent in 2001 to 31 per cent in 2021.
Analysts said these figures reflect changing social conditions and growing participation by Muslim women in education and the workforce.
The study also examined the growing political influence of British Muslims. It is estimated that by the 2029 general election, there could be 49 parliamentary constituencies where the Muslim voting-age population would exceed the winning margin recorded in the 2024 general election by at least 10,000 votes.
Researchers said this could make Muslim voters an increasingly important part of Britain’s political future, especially in urban constituencies.
The report comes at a time when debates around immigration, social integration and discrimination continue across Britain. Muslim organisations have repeatedly called for stronger action against Islamophobia and for better investment in deprived communities where many Muslim families live.
Community representatives at the launch said the report should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers.
“This study shows both progress and continuing inequality,” one participant at the event said. “British Muslims are contributing in every field, but many communities are still struggling with poverty and lack of opportunity.”
