Holocaust Survivor Population Now at 196,000

IFCJ Canada  |  January 27, 2026

The Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany reports that approximately 196,000 Holocaust survivors are still alive today, with half living in Israel. This marks a decrease from last year’s estimate of about 220,000 survivors. At the same time, the median age of survivors has risen from 85 to 87.

Statistics show that around 97,600 survivors live in Israel, 5,200 live in Canada according to the 2024 report, 31,000 in the United States, 17,300 in France, 14,300 in Russia, and 10,700 in Germany. Ukraine, Belarus, Hungary, and Australia are each home to more than 1,000 survivors. In total, Holocaust survivors live in 90 countries. About 62% are women, while 38% are men.

The Conference’s report also highlights how many survivors are in need of assistance—or already receiving it. In 2025, 127,500 Holocaust survivors received aid from the Conference, 139,000 received Conference-funded social services, and 66,700 were eligible for targeted food security assistance.

IFCJ Canada’s poverty program serves elderly beneficiaries in Israel, including thousands of the Holocaust survivors living in the Holy Land. For many, the fight for survival continues as they struggle with poverty, loneliness, and the effects of two years of war and terror.

In 2025, we helped hundreds of Holocaust survivors by providing Hanukkah care packages, bringing comfort to those living in isolation, and listening to their stories of resilience.

Food, companionship, warmth, and fellowship go a long way for this generation of survivors. Above all, these gestures deliver a message that was too often missing in their early lives: that there are people who see them and care about them. This International Holocaust Remembrance Day, extend your heart to survivors by providing lifesaving care today.