Berlin Institute Gives Data on Decreasing Jewish Population in Germany

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency Mail Service)

The Jewish population of Germany at the time of the census in 1910 (not counting the Jews in those parts of the country afterwards detached from Germany) numbered 535,122 souls. At the census of 1925, it numbered 564,379 souls, states the statistical section of the Jewish Scientific Institute here. The increase of 5.5 per cent is due almost entirely to the entry of Jews from former German territory and from other countries.

The non-Jewish population in Germany in the same period-1910-1925. the statement proceeds. increased from 57.263.247 to 61.846.240, about 8 per cent. The Protestant population increased by 4.9 per cent and the Catholic population by 7.1 per cent. The proportion of the Jewish population in comparison with the total population of the country in 1925 was 9 per cent, exactly the same proportion as in 1910.

There was a considerable increase in the Jewish population in Prussia and Saxony. In Prussia the Jewish population in 1910 numbered 366,878 souls, and in 1925 it numbered 403,969. an increase of 10.1 per cent. In Saxony the Jewish population in 1910 was 17,587. and in 1925 it was 23,252 souls. The increase in both cases is due to the settlement of Jews in Berlin and Leipzig. In other parts of the country the Jewish population has decreased. In Bavaria the Jewish population in 1910 was 55,117 and in 1925 it was 49,145. In Munich the Jewish population decreased from 11.083 to 10.068. In Baden it decreased from 25.896 to 24,064, in Hesse from 24,063 to 20,401. in Wuertemberg from 11,982 to 10,827, in Brunswick from 1,757 to 1,753. in Oldenburg from 1,525 to 1,513. in Thuringia from 3,820 to 3,603. in Waldeck from 501 to 477. in Mecklenburg-Strelitz from 254 to 182. in Lippe from 780 to 607. in Schaumburg-Lippe from 230 to 180. in Bremen from 1.843 to 1,508, in Anhalt from 1,383 to 1,140 and in Meellenburg-Schwerin from 1,413 to 1,225.

In Hamburg the Jewish population in 1910 was 19,472. In 1925 it was 19,904. In Luebeck it was 623 in 1910 and 629 in 1925.

In 1825 the Jewish population of Germany numbered 223,000 souls. In the 100 years which clapsed till 1925. the Jewish population increased 150 per cent. In Prussia the increase was 359 per cent, in Baden 41.5 per cent, in Wuertemberg 20.3 per cent. in Hesse 2 per cent. in Hamburg 184.3 per cent. In Saxony the Jewish population increased 30 times. In Bavaria, where the Jewish population in 1825 was 55,000 souls, it decreased in the hundred years by 10.6 per cent. In other smaller States the Jewish population decreased by 51.2 per cent, from 26,250 to 12,817.

With the exception of Prussia and Saxony the Jews have in all parts of Germany lost the position they held a hundred years ago. In 1825 Baden had 7.6 per cent of the whole of German Jewry and in 1925 it had only 4.3 per cent. In Hesse the figures are 9 per cent and 3.6 per cent respectively, in Wuertemberg 4 per cent and 1.9 per cent in Hamburg 3.2 per cent and 3.5 per cent. in Saxony 3 per cent and 4 per cent. In the other States (excepting Prussia and Bavaria) the decline has been from 11.8 per cent to 2.3 per cent.

Bavaria had in 1825,24.7 per cent of all the Jews in Germany, in 1880, 11.4 per cent; in 1900, 10.3 per cent and in 1925, 8.7 per cent. Prussia had in 1825. 39.5 per cent of all the Jews in Germany; in 1850. 45.6 per cent; in 1880, 65.5 per cent; in 1900, 68.6 per cent and in 1925 it had 71.6 per cent. nearly three-quarters of the entire Jewry of Germany.

German Jewry constitutes 3.8 per cent of world Jewry and 6.1 per cent of European Jewry.