COMENETZ 35 Census-Based Estimation of the Hasidic Jewish Population Joshua Comenetz Abstract This paper maps and estimates the size of the American Hasidic Jewish population by combining census data on age, home language, and race with geographical and demographic data obtained from previous studies. Though lower than previ- ous figures, the population estimates are consistent with the spatial structure of the community. The accuracy of the esti- mates is validated by comparison with Jewish school enroll- ments. 1. Introduction Estimating the size of religious groups in the United States and mapping their spatial distribution poses a challenge. Unlike Canada, Mexico, and many other countries, the United States has never had a census question on individual religious affiliation (though in the late 19th and early 20th centuries the U.S. Census Bureau did compile data on the membership of religious congregations). In Canada, almost everyone willingly responds to the religion question, providing perhaps the world’s best data on religious affiliation. South of the border, Americans’ great desire for privacy and legal separation of church and state have made it more difficult to obtain reliable data. Though there have been numerous surveys of religion and surveys containing questions on religious belief (such as the National Opinion Research Center’s General Social Sur- vey), they employ a variety of survey methods and instruments and therefore produce conflicting results. The proliferation of competing surveys has made mapping religion ever more difficult, as different sur- veys provide varying estimates of the total size of religious bodies and their geographic distribution. 1.1 The Hasidim This paper combines census variables and geographical information about a religious group to estimate its size and map its distribution more accurately than was previously possible. The group chosen for study was Hasidic Jews. Though all Jews form a single religious denomina- tion, Hasidic Jews—or Hasidim (“pious ones”)—are among the most religiously observant. Though they are a small minority of Jews world- wide, the Hasidim are important for their geographic and demographic