What percentage of people identified themselves as Buddhists in the 2009 Citizenship Survey?
Okay, let's talk about Buddhism in the UK. While the UK is a diverse country with many faiths represented, Buddhism isn't one of the largest. Historically, Christianity has been the dominant religion, and that's still reflected in the demographics. Other religions like Islam, Hinduism, and Sikhism have larger followings in the UK, largely due to immigration patterns from former British colonies. Now, when we look at the 2009 Citizenship Survey, which aimed to capture a snapshot of British society, the percentage of people identifying as Buddhist was quite small. It was less than half of one percent. This means that for every 1000 people surveyed, fewer than 5 identified as Buddhist. So, while Buddhism has a presence and contributes to the UK's multicultural fabric, its overall representation in the population is relatively minor compared to other religions. That's why less than 0.5% is the correct answer; the other options are simply too high based on the data.
Think of a very tiny fraction, less than half a full percent.