How many people died in the Holocaust?

Holocaust death statistics

Holocaust is a word meaning "great destruction resulting in the extensive loss of life, especially by fire." It is usually reserved for man-made disasters (e.g. "nuclear holocaust"). When used to refer to genocide, the word generally refers to the deaths of Jews and other victims of Nazi Germany during World War 2. (It is also often used to describe the genocide of the Armenians in 1915-1917 by the Ottoman Turkish régime).

Although the true figure may never be known, here are estimates:

• 11 million people died.

• 6 million of these were Jewish (close to two thirds of Europe's Jewish population).

• Up to 250,000 were Roma/Sinti (Gypsies).

• 1.5 million were children.

In addition, Hitler targeted homosexuals, communists and other political dissidents, , slavs, Jehovah's Witnesses, dissidents, some Protestant pastors and Catholic priests, black people, the mentally and physically disabled, and others. The figures include the camps as well as the mass graves in the countryside, killings on the street, organized mass shootings (such as Babi Yar, etc.) and basically, any person singled out for their religion, political beliefs, or their sexual orientation.

There are approximately 250 Holocaust museums and centres around the world where you can learn more, as well as extensive information elsewhere on the Internet.

Please see the links below for more detail.

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