Plain & Growing: Amish Population Doubles Every 20 years, Now Totaling 300,000 in US and Canada

Back in 1973, Sam Stoltzfus helped prepare a directory for the Lancaster Amish settlement.

It listed 50 church districts.

The one for 1995 listed 100 districts.

Today, there are more than 200.

So when researchers say the Amish population doubles about every 20 years? “I can vouch for that,” said Stoltzfus, an Amish historian and small-business owner in Gordonville.