Christians in the civil service have been outnumbered by non-believers for the first time ever.
Official figures have laid bare the impact on Whitehall of wider social and demographic trends.
As of March 2024 there were 166,140 civil servants declaring they were Christian.
That was an increase from 162,515 a year earlier.
But the number actively stating they were not affiliated to any religion or belief went up from 155,655 to 168,870.
Some 21,660 declared they were Muslim, a rise from 18,220 the previous year.
There were 7,265 Hindus, 4,790 Sikhs and 1,250 who stated they were Jewish.
A further 17,575 civil servants answered ‘other’, 42,730 said they did not want to discuss their religion, and 110,915 did not make an active declaration.
The total number of civil servants increased to 542,840 from 519,780 between March 2023 and March 2024.
The Cabinet Office, which publishes the annual figures, declined to comment. However, sources stressed that those not affiliated to any religion were not necessarily atheists.
The findings reflect a wider national change in religious views.
The most recent census in 2021 found that under half of the population of England and Wales described themselves as Christian for the first time.
The 46.2 per cent level was down from 59.3 per cent in 2011 – although it remained the most common response.
‘No religion’ was the second most common response, rising to 37.2 per cent from 25.2 per cent a decade earlier.
Numbers declaring as Muslim were up to 6.5 per cent from 4.9 per cent in 2011, while 1.7 per cent said Hindu – up from 1.5 per cent.
The most recent census in 2021 found that under half of the population of England and Wales described themselves as Christian
The figures were highlighted after US Vice President JD Vance sparked a row over religious rights in the UK.
Mr Vance used a speech at the Munich Security Conference on Friday to condemn a ‘backslide in conscience rights’ – pointing to the case of an army veteran who was convicted for silently praying in a ‘safe zone’ outside an abortion clinic.
But touring broadcast studios this morning, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, himself a Christian, said being able to access health services was ‘an important British value too’.
