Amish Population Pyramids: Demographic Patterns across Affiliations in the Holmes County, Ohio, Settlement

Abstract

Research indicates demographic trends within the Amish community remain stable over time, even as Amish populations proliferate. However, most of the research on demographic trends fails to examine variation across affiliations. We use data from Ohio Amish Directory, Holmes County and Vicinity, 2010 to construct age-sex population pyramids for three different affiliations. Population pyramids render the growth, decline, and stability of populations visible. Andy Weaver (or Dan) and Old Order churches present expanding pyramids implying rapid growth, while New Order churches render a stationary pyramid indicating slower growth. Sociologists of religion consistently find that strict churches, cultivating separation from the outside world, tend to grow faster than those that foster accommodation with the outside world. We argue that the data presented in this article suggests a similar dynamic at work in Plain Anabaptist communities.

A Population Profile of the Amish in Michigan

“…Generally, any age group, either female or male, is larger than the next oldest age group, but smaller than the previous age group. In demography, this is known by the word "expansive," a term meaning that younger age groups are larger; hence, forming the shape of a pyramid (Coyler et al, 2022). There is one interesting variation in the pyramid for Old Order families (Figure 6).…”