A study conducted by Muslim Census has revealed that only 51.9% of British Muslims feel they strongly belong in the UK, with fears, pessimism and financial hardships within British Muslim life at an all-time high.
Just over half of British Muslims strongly feel they belong in the UK, a dramatic drop from 93% who reported the opposite in 2016 (according to the Ipsos MORI survey).
The survey conducted by Muslim Census in partnership with Islamic Relief UK and the National Zakat Foundation is one of the largest ever socio-economic studies of British Muslims.
The findings, titled The Crisis of Belonging, reveal the struggles of a community grappling with rising Islamophobia, political hostility and a growing sense of alienation, even among those born and raised in Britain.
One participant said: “Five generations of my family have lived in this country, yet I feel it is more divided than ever. Unfortunately, it will get much worse.”
Muslims speak out
Muslims who partook in the survey felt that the UK has become increasingly hostile, citing the media, political rhetoric and the rise of the far-right as driving feelings of exclusion and insecurity.
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Many participants no longer feel safe identifying as Muslim in public, with others openly considering emigrating or having a “Plan B” if conditions worsen.
“I was born here but no longer feel safe here as a Muslim and am looking to move abroad if I can,” one Muslim Census survey respondent said.
“I have lived in the UK for 25 years and this is the most hostile environment so far, with English flags, racial slurs and getting stared at,” another participant said.
Financial struggles of Muslims
The survey of 4,800 British Muslims also exposed the financial struggles of the Muslim community, with the following revelations:
● 29.4% struggled to pay at least one household bill in the past year.
● 43% relied on borrowing, including credit cards or family loans, to meet the cost of living.
● 1 in 12 missed meals due to financial difficulty — including 6% of full-time workers.
● Among Black African Muslims, 1 in 5 reported going hungry in the past year.
Despite the financial struggles reported, only 2% of respondents said they requested Zakat or emergency charitable support in the last year.
And 63% of those who documented financial hardship went hungry and didn’t use food banks in the past year.
The survey reveals the lack of awareness that the UK Muslim community has when it comes to support available for such struggles.
It also reveals that many Muslims face discomfort in asking for help, constituting a major barrier to accessing the available support.
Dr Sohail Hanif, the Chief Executive of the National Zakat Foundation, said: “I travel across the country every week and meet people from many different backgrounds, faiths, and walks of life. What’s clear in the 2026 Muslim Census survey is a shared sense of uncertainty and a feeling that trust between communities has weakened in recent years.
“This isn’t something felt just by Muslims, but across communities more broadly. Rebuilding trust and strengthening British Muslims’ sense of belonging in the UK will take time and effort, but it’s essential if communities are to feel connected, confident, and hopeful about the future.”
