HINDUS have the lowest prevalence of disability and the highest percentages of good health and highest levels of qualification among all religious groups in England and Wales, new census data revealed.

According to figures released by the Office for National Statistics, in 2021, 87.8 per cent of Hindus reported having either “very good” or “good” health, compared with 82 per cent of the overall population. Hindus also had the lowest prevalence of disability (8.8 per cent), followed by Sikhs (10.8 per cent) and Muslims (11.3 per cent), well below the overall figure of 17.5 per cent for England and Wales.

Also, Hindus have the highest percentage of ‘Level 4 or above’ qualification at 54.8 per cent, compared with 33.8 per cent for the overall population, according to the figures based on self-declaration. Only 31.6 per cent of Christians reported they have a similar level of education -- least reported by any religion. The census further revealed that Hindus, followed by the Jewish, had the highest percentages in “professional occupations”. They had the second highest in “managers, directors or senior officials” occupations -- 14.2 per cent, and the highest percentage of people in “professional occupations” -- 34.3 per cent. Home ownership varied considerably across religious groups with more than three-quarters or 77.7 per cent of Sikhs living in households that own their home -- the highest for any religious group.