American Jewish Fertility

Since the 1971 National Jewish Population Study, and throughout subsequent national surveys, data were collected on achieved fertility, detailed birth histories, current levels, planned family size, and other information on family formation. Cohort analysis shows that, although at lower levels, Jewish fertility followed the general trends of American population since World War II. However, Jews remarkably anticipated by a few years the rising and declining fertility waves of the US total population – from the Baby boom to the subsequent Baby bust. In this chapter Jewish fertility differentials are also examined by degree of religiosity and socioeconomic characteristics. More recent sources confirm the persisting low levels of Jewish fertility in the US. The 2020 Pew Survey of Jewish Americans hints at further decline in Jewish family size at a time when US fertility levels reached a historical minimum.