Religion - Staff Monitoring Report 2023/24

Religion 2023/24

Proportion % by religion or belief status in 2023/24

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 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 Belief43.5%
Religion or Belief39.5%
I prefer not to say12.3%
No data4.8%

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

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

Snapshot date: 31st July 2024 (Academic Year 2023/24)

Religion or belief subgroup breakdown of current year (2023/24)

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 2024) ​
Religion or Belief% of OU staff
No Religion43.5%
Christian30.2%
I prefer not to say12.3%
No data4.8%
Spiritual2.2%
Muslim2.1%
Other Religion or Belief1.7%
Hindu1.6%
Buddhist0.8%
Jewish0.5%
Sikh0.4%

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

Snapshot date(s): 2023/24 (as at 31st July 2024) 

Scope: All Staff – Academic Staff (Central, Regional, Research and ALs) and Professional and 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%0.5%
Christian31.0%29.1%
Hindu0.8%2.7%
I prefer not to say13.8%10.3%
Jewish0.8%0.2%
Muslim1.6%2.7%
No Religion40.4%47.4%
Other Religion or Belief1.9%1.3%
Pagan0.1%0.0%
Sikh0.2%0.6%
Spiritual2.4%1.9%
Unknown6.0%3.2%

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

Snapshot date(s): 2023/24 (as at 31st July 2024) 

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

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