You asked
Please provide a full list of recognised religions (or if this is not available, a list of religions stated in the census) for England and Wales, whatever the most recent data available.
We said
Thank you for your Freedom of Information request asking for a full list of recognised religions (or a list of religions stated in the Census) for England and Wales.
We do not maintain a list of 'recognised religions' but collect and publish detailed data on religion through the religion question in the census.
The census first included a question on religion in 2001. In order to collect this data in a way that is consistent with previous censuses, the Census 2021 question is the same as that used in 2001 and 2011. Further details of the development of the religion question for Census 2021 are set out in our National identity, ethnic group, language and religion question development for Census 2021 report.
The Census 2021 questionnaire included tick-boxes for Christian, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh, as well as 'No religion' and 'Any other religion', the latter enabling people to identify as they wished using the write-in box, supported online by the new search-as-you-type functionality. Together, this allowed anyone to identify as being of any religion or none.
Detailed estimates of the population of England and Wales by religion from the 2011 Census at national and subnational level are available on the Nomis website. The Religion (detailed) [QS210EW] table includes 59 religious groupings or classifications.
The classifications (or categories) we use to organise and publish our census 'outputs' (including our data tables) are derived from the responses to census. We published a report on 'Write-in response groupings' for the 2011 census, including for the religion question which can be found here. These lists reflect the responses provided in the census rather than a list of recognised religions.
You may also be interested in the Government Statistical Service's 'Religion harmonised standard'. Harmonisation is the process of making statistics and data more comparable, consistent and coherent. Harmonised standards set out how to collect and report statistics to ensure comparability across different data collections across government.
Please do not hesitate to contact us directly on pop.info@ons.gov.uk if you require anything further.