History of the Jews in Scotland
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| 5,847 – 0.1% (2022 Census) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
| East Renfrewshire | 1,511 – 1.6% |
| City of Edinburgh | 1,270 – 0.25% |
| Glasgow City | 973 – 0.16% |
| Languages | |
| Scottish English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, Hebrew, Yiddish | |
| Religion | |
| Judaism | |
| Part of a series on |
| Jews and Judaism |
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| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 6,448 | — |
| 2011 | 5,887 | −8.7% |
| 2022 | 5,847 | −0.7% |
| Religious Affiliation was not recorded in the census prior to 2001. Source: National Records of Scotland | ||
| History of Scotland |
|---|
| Scotland portal |
The history of the Jews in Scotland goes back to at least the 17th century. It is not known when Jews first arrived in Scotland, with the earliest concrete historical references to a Jewish presence in Scotland being from the late 17th century. Most Scottish Jews today are of Ashkenazi background who mainly settled in Edinburgh, then in Glasgow in the mid-19th century. In 2013 the Edinburgh Jewish Studies Network curated an online exhibition based on archival holdings and maps in the National Library of Scotland exploring the influence of the community on the city.
According to the 2011 census, 5,887 Jews lived in Scotland; a decline of 8.7% from the 2001 census. The total population of Scotland at the time was 5,313,600, making Scottish Jews 0.1% of the population.