 | |
 | |
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 119,872 – 2.2%(2022 Census)[1] | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| Glasgow City | 48,766 – 7.9% |
| City of Edinburgh | 18,034 – 3.5% |
| Aberdeen City | 6,465 – 2.9% |
| Dundee City | 6,232 – 4.2% |
| Religions | |
| MajoritySunni Islam | |
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 42,557 | — |
| 2011 | 76,737 | +80.3% |
| 2022 | 119,872 | +56.2% |
| Source:Office for National Statistics andNational Records of Scotland [2][3][1] | ||
Islam in Scotland includes all aspects of theIslamic faith in Scotland. The first Muslim known to have been in Scotland was a medical student who studied at theUniversity of Edinburgh from 1858 to 1859. The production of goods and Glasgow's busy port meant that manylascars were employed there.[4] Most Muslims in Scotland are members of families that immigrated in the later decades of the 20th century. At the 2011 census, Muslims comprised 1.4 per cent of Scotland's population (76,737).[5] In the 2022 census, this grew to 2.2% of the population (119,872).[1]
The first named Muslim known in Scotland was Wazir Beg fromBombay (now "Mumbai"). He is recorded as being a medical student who studied at theUniversity of Edinburgh in 1858 and 1859.[4] Manufacturing and Glasgow's busy seaport meant that manyLascars were employed there.Dundee was at the peak of importingjute, and sailors fromBengal were also seen at its port. Records from theGlasgow Sailors' Home show that nearly a third (5,500) of the boarders in 1903 were Muslim Lascars.[citation needed]
However, the immigration of Muslims to Scotland is a relatively recent event. The majority of Scottish Muslims are members of families who immigrated in the late 20th century. Scotland's Muslims in 2001 represented just 0.9% of the population (42,557),[6] with 30,000 inGlasgow.[7] By 2011, the Muslim population had increased to 76,737, accounting for 1.4% of Scotland's population.[8]
Muslims in Scotland are an ethnically diverse population. Although a majority of Muslims are of Pakistani (52%) origin, 14.5% are Arab, 4.6% are White and 8?.% are African. Glasgow has the highest Muslim population of any city in Scotland with 7.9% of residents identifying as Muslim in the 2022 census.Pollokshields andSouthside Central are the wards with the highest concentration of Muslim residents – 27.8% and 15.7% respectively. 37.3% of Muslim in Scotland were born in Scotland, with another 7.3% born elsewhere in the United Kingdom.[5] Edinburgh is home to the second highest population of Muslims in Scotland. Taken together, Glasgow and Edinburgh are home to around 60% of all Muslims in Scotland.[9]
The table shows the Muslim populations among ethnic groups and nationalities in Scotland.
| Ethnic group | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Number | % of Muslim population | |
| –Scottish | 2,051 | 1.71 |
| –British | 489 | 0.41 |
| –Irish | 45 | 0.04 |
| –Polish | 128 | 0.11 |
| –Gypsy and Irish Traveller | 31 | 0.03 |
| –Roma | 42 | 0.04 |
| –Other White | 2,721 | 2.27 |
| – Mixed | 4,293 | 3.58 |
| –Indian | 3,197 | 2.67 |
| –Pakistani | 61,743 | 51.51 |
| –Bangladeshi | 5,611 | 4.68 |
| –Chinese | 130 | 0.11 |
| – Other Asian | 6,021 | 5.02 |
| – African | 10,512 | 8.77 |
| –Caribbean | 53 | 0.04 |
| – Other Black | 220 | 0.18 |
| –Arab | 17,358 | 14.48 |
| – Other Ethnic group | 5,213 | 4.35 |
| TOTAL | 119,872 | – |
According to information from the 2011 Scottish census, 71% of Muslims in Scotland consider their only national identity to be Scottish or British (or any combination of UK identities). The census concluded "Muslims have a strong sense of belonging to Scotland in particular and the UK more generally."[5]
In 2011, 37.5% of Scottish Muslims held degree level qualifications compared to the Scotland average of 27.1%. 21.4% of Muslims in Scotland had no qualifications, slightly lower than the 22.9% average for Scotland. Only 4.5% of Muslims in Scotland had poor English language skills.[5]
Muslims in Scotland in 2011 were less likely to be employed full-time (31%) than the general population (51%). Contributing factors for this include Muslims being more likely to be students (19%) than the general population (6%), and 25% of Muslim women 'looking after the home or family', in comparison to 5.6% of women from the overall population.[5] 8.7% of Scottish Muslims were unemployed, whereas 6.3% of the general population were unemployed.[5] Approximately a third of Scottish Muslims working full-time areself-employed, compared with 12% of the general population.[11]
Some important mosques in the major cities of Scotland areGlasgow Central Mosque,Edinburgh Central Mosque,Aberdeen Mosque and Islamic Centre, andDundee Central Mosque.
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