New analysis shows 60s who join a gym more likely to join a religious group The ILC-UK's longitudinal analysis also found that over 60s who join a political party are also significantly more likely to join a religious group like a church, synagogue or mosque.

1. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
Religion in England Today
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
Age 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 Age 80+
Men Women
Proportion of respondents who are members
of a church or other religious group

2. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
Ethnic minorities are more likely to belong to a
religious group
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
45%
50%
Age 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 Age 80+
Ethnic Minority White
Proportion of respondents who are members
of a church or other religious group

3. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
Older people living in rural areas are more
likely to belong to a religious group
0%
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
Age 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 Age 80+
Urban Rural
Proportion of respondents who are members
of a church or other religious group

4. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
Belonging to a religious group has a small, but
positive impact on people’s sense of worth
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Age 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 Age 80+
Not religious Religious
On a scale from 1 to 10, to what extent do you feel things you do
in your life are worthwhile?

5. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
Belonging to a religious group has a small, but
positive impact on people’s happiness
0.0
1.0
2.0
3.0
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.0
8.0
9.0
10.0
Age 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 Age 80+
Not religious Religious
On a scale from 1 to 10, how happy did you feel yesterday?

6. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
Belonging to a religious group does not equate
to spending less time alone…
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Age 50-54 55-59 60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 Age 80+
Not religious Religious
Yesterday, did you spend time at home by yourself?
(% answering yes)

7. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
Organisational membership of the 60+ has
increased since 2004
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
2004/5 2006/7 2008/9 2010/11 2012/13 2014/15
Member of a church or religious group
Member of a political party

8. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
Are people just becoming more active? (60+)
2004 to 2014
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
Have not
joined a gym
Have joined a
gym
Have not
joined a
political party
Have joined a
political party
Proportion who joined a religious group

9. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
However, fewer people belong to religious
groups compared to previous cohorts of the
same age
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
2002/3 2004/5 2006/7 2008/9 2010/11 2012/13 2014/15
60-64 65-69 70-74 75-79 80+

10. The International Longevity Centre-UK is an independent, non-partisan think-tank
dedicated to addressing issues of longevity, ageing and population change.
But as people get older, they become more
likely to join a religious group