The Young Center have released their 2018 Amish population numbers.
In 2018, Amish are found in 31 states, four Canadian provinces, and two countries in South America.
You can find the full tables here, an overview of the 2018 population, and a list of the 12 largest settlements.
Manitoba is the only new addition this year as far as new states/provinces/countries.
Five things of note:
- Amish today live in 549 separate locations (settlements). Ohio has the most settlements, with 62.
- Pennsylvania and Ohio are as usual the two states with the largest total Amish populations, in the neighborhood of 75,000 each.
- The South American communities are in Bolivia and Argentina. In this unusual example of Amish outside North America, New Order Amish established the two settlements in 2015, with most members of an Old Colony Mennonite background.
- Over the past year, 21 new settlements were formed, two went extinct, and interestingly, two were “reconfigured” into a single settlement. This means a net gain of 18 settlements in the past year.
- Since the early 1990s, the Amish population has increased by over 200,000, reflecting the traditionally rapid growth of this group. You can see a comparison of the numbers in 1992 and 2018 here.
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Your website-Amish America
I went to today’s story on Amish population and graphics were blank (Firefox); I attempted opening it on my other browsers – Chrome, Opera and Brave, all with the same results.
Steve thanks for letting me know – to clarify, you mean that none of the images are visible? Is that still the case now? Thanks
Response
Today some copy is visible, but still blank spots. If you send me an email address to mine, I will send screen captures.
Amish Life
Just what the USA needs, is more compassion and less rush, so am glad to hear that they are growing! We could all benefit from slowing down our lifestyles!
Does anyone in NY, PA, MASS, or in between, know of any benefit auctions coming up the first weekend or two in October?
Would love to attend an Amish auction, for quilts especially, or even a horse auction! We will be taking a trip to those areas, from the Pacific N.W., and am looking forward to seeing and experiencing that culture, as that was my heritage many generations past.
THANK you very much for any suggestions or comments ~ Blessings
Beards or no beards?
Living here in Lancaster County and being a Lancaster County native, I have always known that Amish men with a beard are married men, whereas Amish men without a beard are single. I read in your description about “Facts on the Amish” that all Amish men have beards. Au contraire! Perhaps that is true in other Amish settlements, which seem to be where all the pictures are taken, but here in Lancaster County there is that distinction between single and married Amish men. Thank you.
Hi Louise, not sure which “Facts on the Amish” you are talking about…I don’t believe I’d make a broad statement like that 🙂
Generally yes Amish with beards are married and without beards are unmarried, however in some places unmarried Amish men grow beards upon reaching a certain age (in Lancaster County this is the practice at age 40, see The Riddle of Amish Culture p. 63), and in some communities beards are worn once the young men join the church.
The Amish are likely to become a significant cultural minority population within 2 generations. A generation is 20-25 years. So if current trends continue there could be over 1 million Amish in 2 generations. In 5 generations, there could be 10 million Amish.
Of course this future reality may not happen, but it is very likely we will see at least 1 million Amish. At that point, and if their growth continues apace, we will have a future United Ststes where Amish are no longer talked about as just some cultural fringe community, but as one of America’s most prominent and important cultural groups. Similar to Italian-Americans or Jewish-Americans, but culturally distinct from others. I think this is important and will have significant impact on politics and the economy if that does happen, because even if the Amish themselves shun politics and certain consumer trends they will be reached out to regardless. You already seen that in the agriculture banking sector and natural gas industries. It wouldn’t surprise me if car dealers at some point in the distant future start selling carriages alongside buggies at dealerships with Ford and Chrysler logos.
Good points AJ, and a couple of ideas that had never occurred to me. When will Ford and their competitors get in on the Amish buggy market? 🙂 But yes while things could occur to alter the demographic trajectory, so far it seems that it has been holding strong and 1 million+ Amish might be something we see in this lifetime.
Correction on 12th largest Amish community.
The 12th largest Amish community is listed in Seymour county, Missouri. There is no Seymour county in Missouri.
This community is near the town of Seymour in Webster county Missouri. I am an Amish taxi driver and have transported Amish to this community. Enjoy your articles.
Thanks for the note and the sharp eye, Quay – I forwarded your comment on to the Young Center so hopefully they’ll be able to adjust that. Appreciate you reading, I bet you’ve had an interesting time as an Amish taxi driver.