Desecrated Jewish cemetery in the Alsace region of France. (screenshot)
Jews make up less than one percent of France’s population yet were the target of over half the religiously based hate crimes last year.
By World Israel News Staff
An absolute majority of hate crimes in France last year targeting victims over their religious affiliation were aimed at Jews, according to statistics provided by the French government on Friday.
The Jewish population of France, estimated at anywhere from 435,000 to 500,000, makes up between 0.6% and 0.7% of the country’s total population.
However, according to a report by the French Interior Ministry, 53% of religion-based hate crimes documented across the country last year targeted Jews.
A total of 2,489 religiously motivated hate crimes were reported in France in 2025, with 1,320 targeting Jews.
France reported a sharp increase in the number of anti-Muslim incidents in 2025, with 336 such hate crimes documented, 88% more than the year before.
Hate crimes targeting Christians rose modestly, with 843 anti-Christian hate crimes documented, up 9% compared to 2024.
The proportion of antisemitic hate crimes compared to the total number of religion-based hate crimes actually fell in 2025, with close to two-thirds of religious hate crimes in 2024 targeting Jews.
The total number of religion-based hate crimes remained stable in 2025 in comparison with 2024, while the number of antisemitic hate crimes fell by 16%.
The number of reported hate crimes targeting Jews in France peaked in 2023, with an all-time record of 1,676, followed by 1,570.
Prior to the Hamas invasion of Israel in 2023, well under 1,000 antisemitic hate crimes were documented annually.
In 2022, there were 436 reported antisemitic hate crimes.
President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged on Friday that the country’s leadership has failed to curb the rise in antisemitism in France.
“In 20 years, and despite the resolute efforts of our police officers, gendarmes, judges, teachers and elected officials, the antisemitic hydra has kept advancing,” said Macron, marking the 20th anniversary of the murder of Ilan Halimi.
Halimi, a member of France’s Jewish community, was kidnapped by an antisemitic gang in 2006 and tortured to death.
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