Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in United Kingdom
United Kingdom: Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations was 36.9% in 2022. ▼ Falling
Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in United Kingdom, 1984–2022
Source: Integrated Values Surveys (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in %.
Analysis
In 2022, share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in United Kingdom stood at 36.9%.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 2.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in United Kingdom peaked at 48.2% in 1984 and was at its lowest, 32.6%, in 2004.
United Kingdom ranks 29th of 38 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in United Kingdom, year by year
| Year | % | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 48.2% | — |
| 1993 | 42.4% | -11.9% |
| 2004 | 32.6% | -23.3% |
| 2010 | 37.8% | +16.0% |
| 2022 | 36.9% | -2.5% |
United Kingdom compared with similar countries
- United Kingdom's 36.9% is below the median for high income countries, which is 46.0%, 80% of the median. (28 countries reporting)
- United Kingdom's 36.9% is below the median for Europe & Central Asia, which is 47.9%, 77% of the median. (25 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 48.2% | 48.2% | 48.2% | 1 |
| 1990s | 42.4% | 42.4% | 42.4% | 1 |
| 2000s | 32.6% | 32.6% | 32.6% | 1 |
| 2010s | 37.8% | 37.8% | 37.8% | 1 |
| 2020s | 36.9% | 36.9% | 36.9% | 1 |
Countries ranked near United Kingdom
More social development data for United Kingdom
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 581,072 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 517 (2025)
- Political Rights Rating 1 (2025)
- Electoral democracy 1 (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Political rights rating fh, gaps filled 1 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 517 (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0.0084 units per person (2025)
- Refugees under the mandate of the UNHCR by country or territory of 0 units per US$ of GDP (2025)
Frequently asked questions
- What is share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in United Kingdom?
- Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations in United Kingdom was 36.9% in 2022, according to Integrated Values Surveys (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest share of people who trust churches and religious organizations recorded in United Kingdom?
- The highest recorded value was 48.2% in 1984.
- What is the lowest share of people who trust churches and religious organizations recorded in United Kingdom?
- The lowest recorded value was 32.6% in 2004.
- How does United Kingdom rank for share of people who trust churches and religious organizations?
- United Kingdom ranks 29th out of 38 countries with data for 2022.
- Is share of people who trust churches and religious organizations rising or falling in United Kingdom?
- Over the last ten years it is down 2.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is falling.
- Where does this United Kingdom data come from?
- The figures come from Integrated Values Surveys (2024) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Share of people who trust churches and religious organizations. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 5 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
% of respondents replying that they "trust completely" or "trust somewhat" when asked "I am going to name a number of organizations. For each one, could you tell me how much confidence you have in them: is it a great deal of confidence, quite a lot of confidence, not very much confidence or none at all?" in the organization "The Churches (mosque, temple, etc.)".