How many nudists in America?

[Archaewok1]

Does anyone have any data that might indicate how many nudists/naturists (official and unofficial) are in America? I've heard that AANR is running around 38,000 in members or so, but I know a lot of people aren't AANR members. It seems like the number would have to be somewhat high if so many nudist resorts are able to stay in operation. I'd like to throw a number like 200,000 or 250,000 out there, but that seems like a low number, especially considering that America has like 300 million people in it.

[Falcon46]

Interesting question. I suspect the number is higher than 250k. There are a lot that like me that no longer feel the need to be affiliated with a membership group like ANNR or a club, but still feel they are nudists when the opportunity presents itself. Attitude and actual practice defines a nudist in my opinion, whether part-time or not.

[ohioriver]

The U.S. population is 314,420,008 at the latest count when I checked at 11:55 p.m. on September 20th... so I agree with Falcon that the number is a lot higher than 250,000. I'd like to say at least 1 million... that's less than a fraction of the U.S. population. Of course, I have no idea on the 1,000,000 figure, but that tells me that we have a lot of work to do in teaching Americans about the benefits of nudism..... So, that causes me to respond to Falcon46's comment that he no longer feels the need to be affiliated with a membership group like AANR or a club. It seems it's important to have organizations like AANR and the Naturist Society that combine forces through their memberships to stand up for all that is good for nudism. Nudism is something that's healthy and good, and it shouldn't be something we have for ourselves; it should be something that we encourage people all over the United States about what's great about being a nudist... And if my million figure is right, there are a lot of nudists keeping it to themselves...... It truly is very sad that AANR has just 38,000 members and that the Naturist Society has struggled with membership in recent years. These are organization that as nudists it's important that we support. I'm not much of a voice all by myself.

[Stu2630]

The U.S. population is 314,420,008 at the latest count when I checked at 11:55 p.m. on September 20th... so I agree with Falcon that the number is a lot higher than 250,000. I'd like to say at least 1 million... that's less than a fraction of the U.S. population. Of course, I have no idea on the 1,000,000 figure, but that tells me that we have a lot of work to do in teaching Americans about the benefits of nudism.....

Why?

Assuming your figure of 1 million is correct, that would about 99.7% of the US population are not nudists. It's fair to assume that they know what nudism is, but they have chosen not to be.

I think nudists need to be a bit careful on this point because, if they are not, they risk alienating people - and some will be only too happy to make all kinds of insinuations about nudists and the reason some people indulge in it, and that risks making nudists into social pariahs. People often see nudists in the same way they perceive vegans, or minority religions. They are happy for them to exist and sometimes find them fascinating, but they have absolutely no intention of ever embracing their belief systems and will resist fiercely if they suspect any attempt at indoctrination.

To extend the religion parallel, I think nudists should behave not like evangelists, going out into the textile world to "convert" people and bring them into the nudist fold, but rather behave like zen buddhists. Their approach says you know who we are and where we are, and our door is always open to newcomers. If you are interested and wish to learn about us, we will be pleased to tell you - but you must come to us and we will never bother you unsolicited. In the meantime, you can practise and enjoy your nudism as always.

Stu

[LumpyPostage]

How would anybody ever know? You can only count people who are affiliated with some organisation and those who participate in some kind of nationwide survey. Neither would ever cover everybody.

You would also have to define the word nudist, as it means very different things to different people. Is everybody who considers themselves a nudist really a nudist? Do they have to pass some litmus test? Do groups like AANR get to decide? Who is the arbiter of nudism?

[Gloria]

Why?

Assuming your figure of 1 million is correct, that would about 99.7% of the US population are not nudists. It's fair to assume that they know what nudism is, but they have chosen not to be.

I think nudists need to be a bit careful on this point because, if they are not, they risk alienating people - and some will be only too happy to make all kinds of insinuations about nudists and the reason some people indulge in it, and that risks making nudists into social pariahs. People often see nudists in the same way they perceive vegans, or minority religions. They are happy for them to exist and sometimes find them fascinating, but they have absolutely no intention of ever embracing their belief systems and will resist fiercely if they suspect any attempt at indoctrination.

To extend the religion parallel, I think nudists should behave not like evangelists, going out into the textile world to "convert" people and bring them into the nudist fold, but rather behave like zen buddhists. Their approach says you know who we are and where we are, and our door is always open to newcomers. If you are interested and wish to learn about us, we will be pleased to tell you - but you must come to us and we will never bother you unsolicited. In the meantime, you can practise and enjoy your nudism as always.

Stu

Good point Stu.

I have found that it is easy to make nudist friends.....but difficult to make friends into nudists.

[nimrod]

Part of the problem of reaching an accurate count is that there are some that practice nudism but do not consider themselves nudists. The closet nudist who only is only nude at home, the only while in a hot tube and/or skinny dipping nudist, may not call themselves a nudist because of these self restrictions.

Also there are all the negative preconceptions about nudism that might stop people from admitting to being a nudist. From my personal experience, few outside of the the nudist community know what nudism really is, and most think there must be some sexual connection.

[Sprint57]

I'm an at home nudist. Don't belong to any organization besides this forum. Count me for one more.

[atalanta]

I believe it is estimated that Spain has over 400,000 nudists, being persons who will in determined circumstances be naked in public and mixed company. That would be approaching one percent of the population. Most of those would not be formally affiliated to any nudist organisation. I am not sure whether this includes or excludes the many foreign tourists who visit and use the beaches nude.

It would be very hard to judge the level of interest among the USA's population with circumstances as they are now but that number perhaps gives a concept of how things might be in USA if there were less asphyxiating legislation and local rules and fewer administrators looking for fault where there is none. America might then have 3 million+ nudists.

[ohioriver]

Good point Stu.

I have found that it is easy to make nudist friends.....but difficult to make friends into nudists.

Totally agree... it's really stretching to think talking about the benefits of nudism is converting anyone to it... but it's good to talk about the benefits and help people understand there's nothing to worry or to be concerned by simple nudity.. After all, we were all born nude It's just somebody put clothes on us and our lives were forever changed...