Number of people identifying as ‘ethnically Jewish’ doubles since 2011

The number of people in England and Wales who identified themselves as ethnically Jewish has doubled over the past decade.

The Institute for Jewish Policy Research (JPR) looked at data made available after further data was published from the ONS Census 2021 and found that 67,984 identified themselves as being ethnically Jewish.

This compared with the 33,770 who identified as ethnically Jewish in the Census 2011.

It is unclear how many of these total identifying themselves as ethnically Jewish  also identified themselves as religiously Jewish as well.

In total, 271,000 people identified as Jewish in the 2021 census.

“The total enumerated Jewish population is larger than that recorded by religion data alone but we will need to wait to find out just how many,” JPR reported in its Census analysis.

“Jewish” was listed in the optional Census question on religion, but it was not specifically listed in the question on ethnicity.

Respondents could answer “Other” and then tick the “Jewish” box.

In 2011, three in four of those who identified as ethnically Jewish also identified as religiously Jewish.

@jewishnewsuk Census 2021, explained by our own, Richard Ferrer. #census2021 #learnontiktok #explainer #learnmore #learnitontiktok #history #jewish #jewishnews ♬ QUIET DOWN 2 – Madison Malone