A recent demographic survey conducted by the New York-based Claims Conference has provided an updated and comprehensive overview of Holocaust survivors globally. The study, released

on the eve of Holocaust Memorial Day, reveals a total estimated survivor population of 245,000 individuals residing in over 90 countries. The demographic breakdown indicates a predominance of women, with ages ranging from 77 to 100.

The Claims Conference utilized a global "heat-map" to identify survivor locations, considering payments from Germany via the Claims Conference and services offered by social welfare agencies. Remarkably, the world's oldest living Holocaust survivor is believed to be 112-year-old Polish-born Rose Girone.

Nearly half of all Jewish Holocaust survivors, accounting for 49%, currently reside in Israel, while 18% are in North America and another 18% in Western Europe. In the UK, approximately 1,200 survivors are identified, challenging popular myths about survivor numbers. For instance, contrary to rumors suggesting over 40,000 survivors in New York State alone, the actual figure for all of North America is estimated at 44,200 survivors.

The survey highlights the inclusivity of Claims Conference payments, reaching individuals persecuted in North Africa (Algeria, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia), as well as recognizing those who were in utero during the Nazi persecution of their mothers, born up to nine months after liberation or their mothers' flight.

Breaking down the British figures, the majority of UK-based survivors, constituting 62%, were born in Western Europe, with 28% from Eastern Europe, 3.6% from the Former Soviet Union, and 2.7% from North Africa. The demographics also reveal a prevalence of female survivors at 66%, ranging in age from 77-80 to 100 years and above.

Gideon Taylor, the president of the Claims Conference, emphasizes the critical need for care and services for survivors as they enter a phase where assistance becomes increasingly essential. Greg Schneider, the executive vice president of the Claims Conference, underscores the significance of recognizing the individual stories behind the numbers, acknowledging the resilience of those who endured the Holocaust and stressing the inevitability of the declining survivor population.

Holocaust survivor Reha Bennicasa, daughter of Rose Girone, emphasizes the importance of sharing testimonies, expressing gratitude for her mother's longevity, and advocating for continued awareness of the Holocaust to prevent its recurrence amid the rise in antisemitism. Photo by Mary-Grace Blaha Schexnayder, Wikimedia commons.