2013 British Social Attitudes Survey shows 48% of Britons non religious

10 September, 2013

Results of the 30th British Social Attitudes Survey (BSA) have been released today, with 48% of respondents claiming that they do not belong to a religion. The report shows that in 1983, around two in three people (68%) considered themselves to belong to one religion or another; in 2012, only around half (52%) do so. The increase in the non religious is almost entirely mirrored by a decline in the proportion of people who describe themselves as belonging to the Church of England, down from 40% in 1983 to just 20% now. Results show that religious identity in Britain has been in stark decline over the past three decades.

Pavan Dhaliwal, BHA Head of Public Affairs, commented ‘Religious identities in Britain have been in decline over the past three decades with this trend set to continue. This government has taken an aggressive stance regarding the role of religion in public life, and have claimed that Britain is still a Christian country. We again urge the government to take note of these survey results, and to recognise the fact that almost half of the British population are in fact non-religious.’

Notes

For further comment or information contact Pavan Dhaliwal, Head of Public Affairs at pavan@humanists.uk or on 0773 843 5059.

The 30th British Social Attitudes Survey: http://www.bsa-30.natcen.ac.uk/

The BHA’s page on statistics and surveys on religious belief: https://humanists.uk/campaigns/religion-and-belief-surveys-statistics

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. It promotes a secular state and equal treatment in law and policy of everyone, regardless of religion or belief.