Hinduism in the United Kingdom in the context of "Religion in the United Kingdom"

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⭐ Core Definition: Hinduism in the United Kingdom

Hinduism is the third-largest religious group in the United Kingdom, after Christianity and Islam. It is followed by just over one million people (around 1.7% of the total population). According to the 2021 United Kingdom census Hindus are primarily concentrated in England, particularly in Greater London and the South East, with just under 50,000 Hindus residing in the three other nations of the United Kingdom. Hindus have had a presence in the United Kingdom since the early 19th century, as at the time India was part of the British Empire. Many Indians in the British Indian Army settled in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Most British Hindus are immigrants, mainly from India, and there are also significant number of Hindu immigrants from Sri Lanka and Nepal, with even smaller numbers from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan. In recent decades, due to the efforts of ISKCON, BAPS and other Hindu organisations and increased interest in Yoga, Meditation and other practises associated with Hindu traditions, many British citizens have embraced Hinduism, including many celebrities. The UK has the largest Hindu population in Europe.

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In this Dossier

Hinduism in the United Kingdom in the context of Hinduism in the Netherlands

Hinduism is the third largest religious group in the Netherlands, after Christianity and Islam; representing about 1.0% of the Dutch population in 2019. After the United Kingdom's and Italy's, the Netherlands' is the third largest Hindu community in Europe. There are between 200,000 – 240,000 Hindus currently living in the Netherlands, the vast majority of whom migrated from Suriname – a former Dutch colony in South America. There are also sizable populations of Hindu immigrants from South Asia and Caribbean countries as well as a smaller number of Western adherents of Hinduism-oriented new religious movements.

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Hinduism in the United Kingdom in the context of Hinduism in Italy

Hinduism is practised by 0.4% of the people in Italy. It is practised by 0.1% of the Italian citizens and 2.9% of the immigrant population. In 2012, there were about 90,000 Hindus in Italy. In 2015, the population increased to 120,000. As of 2023, the population is around 223,000 - the second largest Hindu community in Europe after the United Kingdom, and the largest Hindu community in the European Union.

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Hinduism in the United Kingdom in the context of Hinduism by country

Hinduism has approximately 1.17 billion adherents worldwide (14.9% of the world's population). Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, behind Christianity (32.8%) and Islam (23.3%). Pew Research Center data shows the global Hindu population grew steadily from 2010 to 2020 and is expected to keep rising. This increase is driven largely by higher fertility rates in India and Nepal and by growing Hindu populations in regions receiving more migrants.

The two Hindu-majority countries are India and Nepal and together account for more than 95% of the Hindu population worldwide. The past two centuries have seen large-scale migration of Hindus from Southeast Asia, to around the world. Countries with more than 500,000 Hindu residents and citizens are (in decreasing order) India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, the United States, Malaysia, United Kingdom, Myanmar, Australia, Mauritius, South Africa, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates. Global data shows Hinduism is still concentrated in South Asia, but significant communities also exist in Southeast Asia, the Caribbean, and Oceania. WorldData.info reports that India holds most of the world’s Hindus, with notable populations in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.

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