Study highlights global rise in Holocaust denial and distortion
A recent study by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has found that over six million Britons harbor antisemitic beliefs. According to the 2024 Global 100 Survey, 12% of adults in the United Kingdom hold antisemitic attitudes, equating to approximately 6.7 million individuals based on current population estimates.
Globally, the survey found that 46% of the world’s adult population—around 2.2 billion people—exhibit entrenched antisemitic views. These figures represent a significant rise compared to a decade ago, with the ADL reporting the highest recorded levels of antisemitism since it began tracking such sentiments.
In the UK, nearly 38% of respondents endorsed the “dual loyalty” stereotype, suggesting that Jews are more loyal to Israel than to Britain. Regarding perceptions of the Holocaust, while 89% acknowledged its occurrence and accurate historical portrayal, 20% believed that Jews “talk too much” about it.
Alarming global trends in Holocaust awareness
The survey also highlighted a troubling global trend: 20% of respondents had not heard of the Holocaust, and less than half (48%) recognized its historical accuracy. Among younger respondents aged 18 to 34, recognition fell further to 39%. Although outright Holocaust denial remains relatively rare at 4%, distortion is more prevalent, with 17% of participants believing that the number of Jewish victims has been exaggerated.
The UK ranks seventh lowest for antisemitism in Western Europe and ninth globally. Meanwhile, countries such as Cyprus (58%), Greece (50%), and Belgium (30%) reported the highest levels of antisemitism in Western Europe. In contrast, Sweden (5%), Norway (8%), and the Netherlands (8%) recorded the lowest levels in the region.
Despite generally lower antisemitism rates in Western Europe compared to other regions, around 20% of adults in these nations still hold significant antisemitic beliefs. The report also noted a marked rise in antisemitic incidents across the UK and Western Europe since October 7, 2023.
Comprehensive global survey
The ADL’s findings are based on responses from over 58,000 adults across 103 countries and territories, covering 94% of the global adult population. Survey methods included telephone interviews, face-to-face discussions, and probability sampling to ensure nationally representative results.
Respondents were asked 11 questions assessing belief in antisemitic tropes, including whether Jews wield excessive power in business, control global affairs, or are responsible for most wars. In regions such as the Middle East and Africa, over 75% of respondents endorsed most of these tropes. The highest levels of antisemitic attitudes were found in the West Bank, Gaza, and Kuwait, where 97% of participants displayed entrenched antisemitic views. Similarly, 96% of respondents in Indonesia and Bahrain held such views.
One of the most widely accepted tropes involves Jewish loyalty to Israel, with the survey noting a significant increase in this belief over the past 50 years. Another concerning finding was that half of respondents globally agreed with the statement, “Jews don’t care about anyone but their own kind.”
Younger respondents under 35 exhibited elevated levels of antisemitism, with 40% agreeing that “Jews are responsible for most of the world’s wars,” compared to 29% of those aged over 50.
Call to action against antisemitism
Despite the concerning rise in antisemitic sentiment, 57% of global respondents acknowledged that antisemitism is a serious issue.
An expert in the field of European democracy, Dr. Oleg Kozerod, noted:
"We observe a steady trend—people in democratic countries tend to have more tolerant views and fewer stereotypes regarding individuals of different nationalities, skin colors, and religions. This is yet another piece of evidence that the democratic nature of a society influences education, outlook, and cultural behavior, and that democracy is worth fighting for. Unfortunately, leading Western countries are only beginning to develop unified standards on anti-Semitism and interethnic hatred. However, there is hope that in the near future, the United States, the EU, and other countries will develop a common definition of anti-Semitism based on the IHRA definition and demonstrate the same support for Jewish communities as the support shown by Western countries towards Israel during the massive missile and drone attack by Iran."
Commenting on the findings, ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt described the rise in antisemitism as a “global emergency.” He noted, “These trends are evident from the Middle East to Asia, and across Europe and the Americas. Negative attitudes towards Jews are a key indicator of a country’s overall level of antisemitism, and the data is deeply troubling. We urgently need government interventions, increased education, stricter social media safeguards, and enhanced security measures to combat antisemitic hate crimes. This is a societal challenge that requires collective action.”
Marina Rosenberg, Senior Vice President for International Affairs at the ADL, added, “The normalization of antisemitic beliefs and tropes across societies is a growing threat, not just to Jewish communities but to everyone. This is a wake-up call for the world.” Photo by Quinn Dombrowski from Berkeley, USA, Wikimedia commons.