World
Europe’s share of global Jewish population close to levels of 900 years ago
New study shows dramatic decline in numbers compared to 140 years ago
October 22, 2020 12:30
New study shows dramatic decline in numbers compared to 140 years ago
October 22, 2020 12:30Continental Europe’s share of the global Jewish population is dwindling and close to the level it was at nearly 900 years ago, according to new data.
A wide-ranging study has revealed the number of those identifying as Jewish in Europe fell by nearly 60 per cent in the last 50 years.
The number now stands at 1.3 million, down from 3.2m in 1970, according to the data, which covers European Union member states, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Russia.
The report, published by the Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) on Wednesday, is based on census information as well as data reported by individual Jewish communities.
A factor driving the population decline that followed the murder of six million European Jews during the Holocaust was the collapse of the Soviet Union.
“When that disintegrated, Jews moved in all sorts of directions,” one of the JPR report’s authors, Daniel Staetsky, told the JC.
“Some of them stayed in Europe,” he said. “But most left in the direction of Israel or the USA.”
“To compensate for such an outflow, any country, any population, has to have quite strong fertility, or incredibly strong fertility, but that didn’t happen.”
Other factors behind the low numbers cited in the study include relatively low birth rates in some parts of Europe, intermarriage and rising emigration to Israel and the United States.
The UK’s intermarriage rate is among the lowest cited in the study, with 24 per cent of Jews marrying non-Jewish spouses, compared to 76 per cent in Poland.
According to the study, the proportion of Jews in Europe compared to elsewhere was 88 per cent 140 years ago.
It is now almost identical to levels reported in the latter part of the 12th century during the earlier stages of Jewish immigration to Europe.
Data gathered by Jewish medieval traveller Benjamin of Tudela found similar levels of Jews residing across Europe in 1170.
The traveller, who visited the world’s Jewish communities and recorded population data, kept a diary, said Mr Staetsky.
“He was led from one community to another and he had that numerical streak to him.”
JPR executive director, Dr Jonathan Boyd, said the JPR report “provides essential demographic information and context for anyone concerned with the past, present or future of Jews across Europe.”
