A new study by the Pew Research Centre highlights a substantial decline in Christian affiliation within the United Kingdom. The research indicates that approximately one in three Britons – around 30 percent of the population – no longer identify with the Christian denomination in which they were raised.

Significant Shift in Religious Affiliation

This represents a considerable shift in religious affiliation and points to growing secularization within British society. The decline is particularly noticeable among those raised in Protestant and Catholic traditions, with 45 percent of former Protestants and 44 percent of former Catholics now identifying as religiously unaffiliated.

Religious Switching Trends

The Pew Research Centre’s global survey, encompassing 24 countries, demonstrates that this ‘religious switching’ – changes in religious affiliation – is not unique to Britain. While observed in other nations, the trend is particularly notable in Latin America, where a shift from Catholicism to Protestantism is occurring. In the UK, however, the trend largely moves away from organized religion.

Among those raised Protestant who subsequently left the church, 87 percent now identify as non-believers. A smaller percentage, 4 percent, transitioned to Catholicism, while 8 percent joined other faiths. Lapsed Catholics showed a slightly different pattern, with 14 percent becoming Protestant and 14 percent embracing other faiths, but 71 percent identifying as non-believers.

Global Decline and a Notable Exception

The global picture reveals a broader decline in both Catholic and Protestant populations across the surveyed countries. Former Protestants form a significant demographic in nine of the 24 nations studied, and more individuals are leaving Catholicism than joining in 21 of those countries. Hungary is an exception, being the only country where Catholic membership increased.

Gen Z and a Potential Resurgence

Despite the overall decline, recent indicators suggest a potential resurgence of interest in Christianity among Gen Z. A YouGov survey from last year indicated a surge in church attendance among this demographic, rising from under 5 percent to 15 percent.

Furthermore, Bible sales in Britain have experienced a remarkable increase, reaching record levels in recent years. Total UK sales reached £6.3 million in the past year, a 134 percent increase in value compared to the £2.7 million recorded in 2019. Sales increased by 25 percent in value and 28 percent in volume between 2024 and 2025.

While these figures offer a glimmer of hope, they do not negate the broader trend of declining religious affiliation observed in the Pew Research Centre’s study. The data presents a complex picture of a changing religious landscape in Britain.