Muslim Pupils in England and Wales Double Since 2001

Muslim Pupils in England and Wales Double Since 2001: According to data from the 2011 Census, one in 12 school children in England and Wales were Muslim, whilst the total number of Muslims in the UK increased from 1.55m in 2001 to 2.7m in 2011. The report also suggested that the number of British Muslims had increased rapidly between 2001 and 2011 – with around a third being aged 15 or younger at the time of the census. Many of this younger generation live in London and other large cities in the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the North West.

Muslim Pupils in England and Wales Double Since 2001

Muslim Pupils in England and Wales Double Since 2001

Despite fewer than half of British Muslims being born in the UK, almost three quarters identified as British (73%).

However, whilst the report outlined a number of positives, there were also challenges. The data suggested that 46% of British Muslims are living in some of England’s most deprived local authorities – a figure which has increased since 2001.

Whilst many Muslims do identify as British, one in twenty (6%) struggle to speak English. Muslims over the age of 16 are also slightly less likely than the general population to be qualified to degree level (24% vs. 27%). In 2011, 329,694 full-time students identified as being Muslim, with the proportions of males and female roughly three to two (57% male vs. 43% female).

In addition, the census data also suggested that 71% of Muslim women between the age of 16 and 24 were not employed – much higher than the figure for the general population which is approximately one in two. For Muslim women aged 25-49, three fifths were employed (57%) – however, this is lower than the national figure which sits at 80%.

Dr. Sundas Ali, who worked on the analysis of the report, said that it would lead the Muslim community to ‘reflect within itself’ when speaking to the BBC Asian Network recently.


 

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