Witchcraft & Wicca Statistics UK: 2026 Census & Belief Data

Unlike most countries, the UK counts its Pagans and Wiccans directly, through the national census — which makes British witchcraft one of the best-measured spiritual movements anywhere. The 2021 census recorded tens of thousands of Pagans and Wiccans, a rising trend, and confirmed that Britain crossed a historic threshold: for the first time, fewer than half the population identified as Christian. This guide compiles the verified UK figures from the ONS and YouGov.

How many Pagans and Wiccans are in the UK?

Because the England & Wales census lets people write in their religion, it produces unusually hard numbers. In 2021, 74,000 people recorded their religion as Pagan and 13,000 as Wicca, among the 405,000 (0.7% of the population) who wrote in an “any other religion” answer (ONS, Census 2021). Paganism is by far the largest of these write-in groups, and analysts note that adding related paths — Druid, Shamanism, Witchcraft and Wicca — takes the broad Pagan total toward 100,000 (ONS / analysis).

Source: Office for National Statistics, Census 2021 and 2011.

Do Britons believe in witches?

Belief in witches as real beings is a minority view but not a marginal one: YouGov’s 2025 survey found 21% of Britons think witches may exist, and 19% that magic might be real (YouGov, 2025). As with other supernatural beliefs in Britain, women are consistently more likely than men to say there could be something to them.

A more secular Britain

The census that counted Britain’s Pagans also marked a turning point for religion overall: in 2021, for the first time, fewer than half of people in England & Wales (46.2%) described themselves as Christian, while “no religion” rose to 37.2% — the second most common response, up from 25.2% in 2011 (ONS). The growth of Paganism sits within this broader shift away from traditional faith.

Frequently asked questions

How many Pagans are there in the UK?

74,000 people identified as Pagan in the 2021 England & Wales census, up from about 57,000 in 2011; the wider Pagan umbrella approaches 100,000 (ONS).

How many Wiccans are in the UK?

13,000 identified as Wicca in the 2021 census, roughly stable from about 11,800 in 2011 (ONS).

What percentage of Britons believe in witches?

About 21% think witches may exist, and 19% think magic might be real (YouGov, 2025).

About this data

Produced by the editorial team at TarotCards.io, home to free tarot readings and astrology guides. Every figure is drawn from a named primary source, listed below, and the page is reviewed twice a year.

Related guides

• Witchcraft Statistics (US)
• Spirituality & New Age Statistics (UK)
• Tarot Statistics (UK)

Sources & references

1. Office for National Statistics — “Religion, England and Wales: Census 2021” (Pagan, Wicca, Shamanism; Christian and “no religion” figures)
2. Office for National Statistics — number who identified as Wiccan and Pagan (2011 comparison)
3. YouGov UK — “Ghosts? Magic? Do Britons believe in the supernatural?” (belief in witches and magic, 2025)