2023 statistics changes
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The Amish migrated from Europe to North America in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Today they live in 638 geographical settlements in 32 states, four Canadian provinces, and the South American country of Bolivia. (None remain in Europe.) Their population (adults and children) totals approximately 384,480. Their unique practices make the Amish one of North America’s most interesting and colorful religious subcultures.
| North America Total | 637 | 2,914 | 384,290 | ||||||
| Grand Total | 638 | 2,915 | 384,380 |
This means that there are hundreds of different ways of being Amish.
FAQ page:
Q: How many Amish are there?
A: Approximately 384,290 adults and children. In most communities, over half of the population are children and unbaptized teens. Thus, the number of baptized adult church members is likely about 173,000.
Q: Where do they live?
A: They live in 32 states, the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island, and the South American country of Bolivia. Nearly two-thirds (62 percent) live in three states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. See Amish Population 2023 for a complete listing. There are 2,915 local congregations, which are called church districts. Each district typically includes between 20 and 40 households. A settlement is a geographical area that contains one or more districts. Large settlements have more than 100 districts. There are 638 different Amish settlements, but many of them have only one or a few districts.
from population growth page:
There are 638 Amish settlements spread across 32 states, the Canadian provinces of Manitoba, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Prince Edward Island, and the South American country of Bolivia. These settlements include 2,915 church districts (congregations). About 62 percent of the districts are found in three states: Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. See Amish Population 2023 for details.
Observers might expect a traditional group that rejects higher education, car ownership, and the Internet to be on the wane. On the contrary, the Amish population is growing constantly. The 200 church districts in 1951 have grown to 2,915 in 2022.
Large families and strong retention rates propel the growth. On average, families have about five children, but it’s not unusual for them to have ten or more. Typically, 85 percent or more of the youth join the church. (A few members do leave after baptism; defection rates vary from community to community.) Although the Amish do not seek converts, outsiders may join if they comply with Amish guidelines. Several dozen outsiders have done so.
Note: Settlement and district statistics were updated in June 2023. The number of people in a church district varies by settlement. For example, there are approximately 170 people per district in the Lancaster County settlement and approximately 130 per district in the Holmes County settlement. Population estimates, which include both adults and children, were calculated using a variety of sources including Raber’s New American Almanac, reports by correspondents in Die Botschaft, The Budget, and The Diary, settlement directories, regional newsletters, and settlement informants. The table includes all Amish groups that use horse-and-buggy transportation, but excludes car-driving groups such as the Beachy Amish and Amish Mennonites.
| Settlement | State | Districts | Estimated population |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancaster County area | Pennsylvania | 257 | 44,315 |
| Greater Holmes County area | Ohio | 317 | 39,525 |
| Elkhart/LaGrange Counties area | Indiana | 215 | 28,275 |
| Geauga County area | Ohio | 156 | 20,440 |
| Adams County area | Indiana | 68 | 10,680 |
| Nappanee area | Indiana | 51 | 6,695 |
| Daviess County area | Indiana | 35 | 5,965 |
| Arthur/Arcola area | Illinois | 31 | 4,270 |
| Mifflin County area | Pennsylvania | 34 | 4,270 |
| Allen County area | Indiana | 25 | 3,750 |
| Seymour area | Missouri | 19 | 3,530 |
| Indiana County area | Pennsylvania | 25 | 3,190 |
To cite this page: “Twelve Largest Amish Settlements, 2023.” Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, Elizabethtown College. http://groups.etown.edu/amishstudies/statistics/twelve-largest-settlements-2023/