British Muslims: Embracing National Identity and Driving Economic Growth Amid Challenges
A new report by the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) reveals that British Muslims exhibit a robust sense of national identity and a youthful demographic, MCB website reported citing the latest Census data.
The report, titled “British Muslims in Numbers: Census Report Summary March 2025,” highlights that 94% of British-born Muslims in England and Wales feel a strong sense of British identity, with 99% proficient in English.
Notably, 50% of Muslims in the UK are born in the country, with cities like Bradford showing even higher figures (65%). The median age of Muslims is 29, significantly younger than the overall population’s median age of 44. The report also indicates that Muslim men are more likely to be self-employed than their non-Muslim counterparts.
However, challenges remain, as 40% of Muslims live in deprived neighborhoods, and one in four Muslim households experience overcrowding. Additionally, 29.9% of Muslim women aged 65 and older report poor health.
Dr. Miqdad Asaria of the MCB emphasizes the need for targeted policy interventions to address these inequalities. The report calls for local authorities to tackle child poverty, housing, and health disparities while encouraging Muslim civil society to support educational and career mentoring.
