Reviving the Demographic Study of the Amish

Abstract

The Amish exhibit distinctive demographic patterns, notably high fertility. While scholars have studied Amish population dynamics for more than a half century, recent research in this area is limited. We believe the time is ripe to reverse this trend. This article reviews data collection methods, points to a variety of accessible sources of new data, presents some preliminary results from the analysis of one such source (the McKune dataset for Holmes County, Ohio), introduces the research agenda and work of the newly formed Amish Population Research Group, and reviews past demographic findings to situate our agenda. An invitation is extended to demographers, social scientists, health researchers, and others to enter into collaborations with APRG.

The GGLEAM Study: Understanding Glaucoma in the Ohio Amish

“…The Amish are a culturally isolated population with extensive genealogical records dating back to their emigration to North America [ 49 ]. Community-based directories and research-based resources, described elsewhere, have been developed to curate these data [ 50 ]. To determine the relatedness of the GGLEAM study participants, we queried the Anabaptist Genealogy Database (AGDB) [ 51 ].…”

The Influence of Reproductive History on Post-Reproductive Mortality: A Case Study of Amish Women

“…While the average number of children for non-Amish families in the United States is approximately two children (U.S. Census Bureau, n.d.), Kraybill et al (2013) indicate the average number of children for Amish families is seven (Ericksen et al, 1979). In a study of Holmes County Amish, Colyer et al (2017) report the median number of children remained constant at six from 1965 to 1996 and then declined to five children in 2000 and 2005 with a further decline to four children in 2010. Of note, abortions are not permitted within the Amish belief system (Kraybill et al, 2013).…”

The persistently high fertility of a North American population: A 25-year restudy of parity among the Ohio Amish

“…The North American Amish, an ethnically Swiss-German population in the Anabaptist Christian religious tradition (Anderson 2020), represent a conspicuous exception to the West's demographic transition. While Amish mortality rates dropped in tandem with those of North America's populations throughout the twentieth century (Smith 1960;Hewner 1998;Mitchell et al 2001), studies have consistently reported completed fertility of anywhere between six and eight children per Amish woman (Colyer et al 2017).…”

“…The Directory is an unrivalled source of demographic data about the Amish. Representatives from each church submit updated information to the publisher, and the directory includes household members' names and immediate relations; birth, death, marriage, and remarriage dates; street addresses; and select social variables including the household head's occupation and ministerial status (Colyer et al 2017). (Remarriage is permissible only if a spouse dies; divorce is forbidden, although separation is occasionally tolerated.)…”