There are approximately 10 to 11 million Ashkenazi Jews worldwide today, comprising about 70–80% of the total Jewish population. Originating from Jewish settlers in the Rhineland (western Germany) and France around the 10th century, they migrated to Central and Eastern Europe—particularly Poland, Russia, Ukraine, Lithuania, and Belarus—before dispersing globally, mainly to the United States and Israel.
Key Details on Ashkenazi Origins and Demographics:
- Population Size: Estimates suggest around 11 million, with their numbers severely reduced by the Holocaust, which killed roughly 4 million Ashkenazim.
- Geographic Origin: The term “Ashkenazi” refers to the Hebrew word for Germany. They developed as a distinct cultural group in the Rhineland and later expanded into Eastern Europe.
- Ancestry: Genetic studies link them to a small founding population from the Middle Ages, with roots tracing back to the Middle East and Southern Europe (Italy).
- Modern Distribution: The vast majority of Ashkenazi Jews today live in the United States and Israel.
- Historical Impact: They created the Yiddish language and culture, significantly influencing modern Jewish, European, and American history.
Ashkenazi Jews are distinct from Sephardic Jews (originating from Spain/Portugal) and Mizrahi Jews (originating from the Middle East/North Africa).