Dozens of modern witches are living in Swindon, according to the latest census figures.

With Halloween looming, a recent analysis of census figures has revealed there are a surprising number who identify as witches, pagans, and even satanists across England and Wales.

In Swindon, 73 people selected Wicca as their religion in Census 2021. The religion was developed in England during the first half of the 20th century and its name derives from the Old English 'wicca' and 'wicce', the masculine and feminine terms for witch.

The number of people identifying as wiccan in Swindon has actually dropped in recent years though, down from 77 in the 2011 census.

But across England and Wales, over 12,800 people opted for wicca as their religion – a slight jump from 11,800 in 2011.

As well as Wicca, Witchcraft itself is actually a religious option on the census. In Swindon, three people selected Witchcraft as their religion in the most recent household survey, conducted every 10 years.

Although this might seem surprising, the number of people selecting witchcraft as their religion has fallen from nearly 1,300 in 2011 to under 1,100 in the recent census.

While Swindon's witch population has not soared, nationally there has been a 30 per cent rise in pagans - from 56,600 people in 2011 to over 73,700 two years ago. In Swindon, 397 people said they were pagan.

Halloween, which has roots in paganism, originated from the Celtic celebration of Samhain that marked the end of summer and the beginning of the winter. Celts believed the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred on this night.

Celtic priests would build bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.

Eventually, the influence of Christianity spread into Celtic lands and All Soul's Day and All Saint's Day – or All-hallows – was created, incorporating some of the original pagan traditions. To celebrate the days, people would light bonfires, throw parades and dress up as saints, angels and devils.

Speaking of the devil, satanism is also on a steep rise across the nation.

In Swindon's most recent data, 21 people said they were satanists.

Nationwide, this figure was 5,100 people who identified as satanists in the recent census – more than doubling from 1,900 a decade prior.

But despite the name, not all satanists believe in a literal Lucifer. Instead, it is often a metaphor for questioning authority and rejecting mainstream religion.