A Favored Destination

The United Kingdom is the only European country featured in our guide this year. Though Hindus live all across Europe,especially in Italy, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, South Asia’s historic ties and shared language have made the UK a natural and favored destination.

Although Hindus have had a small presence in the UK since the early 19th century, the majority of immigration occurred after the partition of British India in 1947. South Asian Hindus have arrived not only directly from the Indian subcontinent but also via other Commonwealth nations where they had previously established communities.

In recent decades, the UK’s immigration policies have drawn many well-educated South Asians, particularly professionals who have contributed significantly to British society. Recruitment efforts, such as those by the National Health Service, have also brought in medical professionals from South Asia. Additionally, periods of conflict and crisis—most notably Sri Lanka’s civil war—have led to waves of immigration, especially among Hindu Tamil refugees.

Today, Hindus continue to play an important role in British society. A notable example is Rishi Sunak, a practicing Hindu, who became Prime Minister in 2022. The Hindu population in the UK is now estimated to exceed one million.