ADL Poll: Nearly Half Of World’s Adults Hold ‘Significant Antisemitic Beliefs’
An Anti-Defamation League survey released Tuesday reveals that 46% of adults worldwide now hold significant anti-Semitic beliefs, signaling what the organization calls a “global emergency.”
According to The Times of Israel, the ADL’s global survey asked 58,000 respondents in 103 countries if they agreed with 11 anti-Semitic tropes, such as: “Jews’ loyalty is only to Israel” and “Jews have too much power in the business world.” The survey found that 46% of adults worldwide endorsed a majority of these statements, representing approximately 2.2 billion people.
Anti-Semitism was most prevalent in the Middle East and North Africa, with roughly three-quarters of respondents holding significant anti-Semitic views, and the West Bank and Gaza topping the list at 97%. In contrast, Western Europe had lower levels at 17%, and the United States reported that 9% of respondents held significant anti-Semitic beliefs.
ADL chief Jonathan Greenblatt described the findings as a “global emergency,” noting a 108% increase in anti-Semitic views since a similar survey in 2014. He expressed concern over the rise among younger generations, with half of respondents under the age of 35 harboring anti-Semitic sentiments, 13 percentage points higher than adults over the age of 50.
Only 39% of individuals aged 18 to 34 endorsed the mainstream historical narrative of the Holocaust, with the remainder expressing beliefs that the number of Jewish deaths was exaggerated, that the Holocaust was a myth, or stating they had never heard of it.
JOIN THE MOVEMENT IN ’25 WITH 25% OFF DAILYWIRE+ ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS WITH CODE DW25
For the general population, 48% accepted the historical account, while 20% indicated they had “not heard about the Holocaust.”
Marina Rosenberg, ADL senior vice president of international affairs, described the views of young adults as a “demographic time bomb,” emphasizing the urgency in addressing the spread of anti-Semitic ideologies among the youth.
The ADL attributes the rise in anti-Semitism to factors such as the influence of social media, the spread of conspiracy theories, and increasing polarization in societies worldwide.
Despite the alarming statistics, the survey found that 57% of all respondents recognized anti-Jewish hatred as a serious problem. Additionally, a majority expressed openness toward Israel, with 75% stating their country should welcome Israeli tourists and 71% supporting diplomatic ties with Israel. Only 25% supported boycotting Israeli businesses.
In response to the findings, the ADL is urging governments and organizations to adopt the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism, a framework introduced in July and endorsed by dozens of countries and multilateral organizations. The guidelines aim to provide actionable steps to combat anti-Semitism and promote education and awareness.
The extensive survey was conducted in collaboration with the Paris-based Ipsos research firm and involved 58,000 interviews across 103 countries and territories. Conducted primarily via phone between late July and early November 2024, the research was carried out in 80 languages and dialects. Each country’s sample included either 500 or 1,000 residents, with a margin of error ranging from 3.2% to 4.4%.