Just a third of those aged under 26 in England and Wales now identify as Christian, with the average age of believers leaping to over 50, census data shows.

The Church of England said that it needs to “connect with Generation Z” after figures showed that those with “no religion” now outnumber Christians across the entire population under retirement age, with a wide gap among those aged 25 and under.

Christians are by far the oldest group, with the median age increasing from 45 in 2011 to 51 in 2021. This compares to a median age for the entire population of 40, up slightly from 39 in 2011.

Muslims are the youngest group, with an average age of 27, up slightly from 25 a decade ago. The average age of those with no religion is 32, up from 30. For both Hindus and Sikhs it is 37, up from 32; for Jews is 41, with no change from 2011; and for Buddhists is 43, up from 37 in 2011.