Half of British Muslims are under the age of 25

Report Highlights Demographic Shifts Among British Muslim Population

A new report by the Muslim Council of Britain has shed light on the demographic characteristics of the British Muslim population. According to the report, British Muslims make up 6.5 percent of the population of England and Wales, with a median age of 27 years. This is 13 years younger than the national average.

The report also notes that nearly half of British Muslims are under the age of 25, making them one of the youngest and fastest-growing groups in the country. Researchers suggest that this demographic shift could become politically significant if the voting age is lowered to 16, potentially adding approximately 150,000 more Muslim voters to the electorate.

Associate Professor Miqdad Asaria from the London School of Economics and Political Science stated that British Muslims are a “young, British-born, highly educated generation.” He noted that politicians who view Muslims as outsiders may be reading from a script that is outdated. Asaria also emphasized that lowering the voting age to 16 would amplify this generation’s influence on British public life.

The report, titled “British Muslims in Numbers,” analyzes census data across 2001, 2011, and 2021. It argues that much of Britain’s understanding of Muslim life is now outdated. Asaria added that treating Muslim voters as a bloc is not supported by the evidence, as they are ethnically, politically, and culturally diverse.

Lecturer Mohammed Sinan Siyech from the University of Wolverhampton noted that younger Muslims are becoming increasingly engaged in politics through social media, particularly due to rising Islamophobia. The report also highlights signs of inequality and struggle among British Muslim households, including a higher proportion of lone-parent families with dependent children compared to the national average.

The report documents that home ownership among Muslims remains below the national average, at 41.5 percent, while nearly half of British Muslims have a degree or higher. Despite facing structural disadvantages, such as employment discrimination and poor-quality housing, British Muslim women’s economic activity has risen by 37 percent over the past two decades.

The report concludes that British Muslims are changing in the same ways as the wider population, but doing so under significant economic burdens.

Source: Al Jazeera