On behalf of The Economist, Number Cruncher polled British Muslims social attitudes, on religion and the relationship between faith and public life.
A clear majority (62 per cent) say that a Muslim woman should wear a hijab in the presence of adult men other than her husband or close relatives, including 20 per cent who say it should not be a matter of personal choice. Around half (52 per cent) believe same sex relationships are morally wrong.
A third (33 per cent) support political Islam, with 19 per cent opposed. On the role of Sharia, 29 per cent say it should be the main basis of British law (or one influence alongside other sources). A further 44 per cent say it should be restricted to personal matters for Muslims who choose to follow it, where compatible with British law.
Download the full polling tables and read The Economist’s article.
Number Cruncher interviewed 1,006 GB Muslim adults (18+) online between 15th–31st August 2026. Data are weighted to the profile of the population. Image contains AI-generated or modified content.
