Religion - Staff Monitoring Report 2022/23

Religion 2022/23

Proportion % by religion or belief status in 2022/23

Pie chart showing the proportion of staff who identify with a religion or belief, have no religion or belief, prefer not to say, or have no recorded religion or belief data. Details in the data table available after this graphic.
Proportion of staff by Religion or Belief (as at 31st July 2023)
Religion or Belief%
No Religion or Belief43.8%
Religion or Belief39.8%
I prefer not to say12.7%
No data3.7%

The largest group of staff report having no religion or belief.

Scope: All Staff (please see inclusion/exclusion table) 

Snapshot date: 31st July 2023 (Academic Year 2022/23)

Religion or belief subgroup breakdown of current year (2022/23) 

Horizontal bar chart showing the distribution of staff across religion or belief categories. Details in the data table available after this graphic.
Religion or Belief (as of 31st July 2023) ​
Religion or Belief% of OU staff
No Religion43.8%
Christian30.7%
I prefer not to say12.7%
No data3.7%
Spiritual2.3%
Muslim2.0%
Other Religion or Belief1.7%
Hindu1.5%
Buddhist0.7%
Jewish0.5%
Sikh0.4%

No religion and Christianity are the largest religion or belief groups.

Snapshot date(s): 2022/23 (as at 31st July 2023) 

Scope: All Staff – Academic Staff (Central, Regional, Researcher & ALs) and Professional & Support Staff – data does not include OU subsidiaries (OUSA, OUW, Mulberry Bear) or agency/temp workers

Religion by Employee Group

Grouped bar chart comparing religion or belief categories for Academic Staff and Professional & Support Staff. Details in the data table available after this graphic.
Religion or belief by Employee Group
Religion or BeliefAcademic StaffProfessional & Support Staff
Buddhist1.0%0.4%
Christian31.2%30.1%
Hindu0.8%2.3%
I prefer not to say14.6%10.2%
Jewish0.8%0.2%
Muslim1.6%2.6%
No Religion41.1%47.0%
Other Religion or Belief2.1%1.3%
Pagan0.0%0.0%
Sikh0.3%0.6%
Spiritual2.5%1.9%
Unknown3.90%3.50%

Both employee groups show similar religion and belief profiles, with Christianity and No Religion being the most common categories.

Snapshot date(s): 2022/23 (as at 31st July 2023) 

Scope: All Staff – Academic Staff (Central, Regional, Researcher & ALs) and Professional & Support Staff – data does not include OU subsidiaries (OUSA, OUW, Mulberry Bear) or agency/temp workers.

Back to top