Census Reveals Decline In Christian Identity Across Isle Of Wight

With Christmas festivities well underway across the Isle of Wight, the latest Census figures show that fewer than half of Islanders now identify as Christian.

Data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that 47.7 per cent of people in the Isle of Wight local authority area described themselves as Christian in the 2021 Census.

This is closely followed by 43.9 per cent who said they have no religion.

The Island’s figures broadly reflect the national picture.

Across England and Wales, 46.2 per cent identified as Christian in 2021 – a drop of 13.1 percentage points from 59.3 per cent in 2011. Despite the decline, Christianity remains the most commonly stated religion.

On the Isle of Wight, the biggest fall in people identifying as Christian since 2011 was recorded in Newport East and Parkhurst East, down 17.1 percentage points.

Ryde West and Havenstreet saw a fall of 15.5 points, while Newport Central and Parkhurst West dropped by 15 points.

The Census shows that areas in the far east of the Island, including Bembridge and Nettlestone, have the highest proportion of Christians at 58.4 per cent.

Newport Central and Parkhurst West recorded the lowest proportion, at 39.2 per cent.

Muslims and Buddhists are the Island’s next largest religious groups, each accounting for 0.4 per cent of the population.

A further 0.2 per cent identified as Hindu, while 0.1 per cent said they were Jewish.

Full Census data and an interactive map can be viewed on the Office for National Statistics website.