One in ten children under five in England and Wales is Muslim: Researchers 'startled' by analysis of 2011 census figures Figures taken from the 2011 census showed that out of 3.5 million children under five, 320,000 were in Muslim families, The Times reported. Oxford University demographics professor David Coleman said the figures were "startling." "We have had substantial immigration of Muslims for a long time," he said. Continuing immigration from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India has been added to by new immigration from African countries and from the Middle East. Birth rates of Muslims of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin remain quite high, although falling. There seem to be very low levels of falling away from religion among Muslims. The total number of Muslims makes up less than 5 per cent of the UK population. There were 1.5 million children aged 0 to 4 in Christian families.