World Jewish Population 2025 | Statistics & Facts

Global Jews Population in 2025

The world Jewish population has reached a significant milestone in 2025, with approximately 15.8 million Jews living across the globe. This demographic represents roughly 0.2% of the total world population of 8 billion people. The Jewish community continues to demonstrate remarkable resilience and growth, particularly concentrated in two primary nations: Israel and the United States. These two countries together account for more than 85% of the entire global Jewish population, making them the undisputed centers of contemporary Jewish life and culture.

The current population figures mark a continued recovery from the devastating impact of the Holocaust, which reduced the global Jewish population from its historical peak of 16.6 million in 1939 to just 11 million by 1945. While the community has grown steadily since World War II, the total number still remains below pre-Holocaust levels. Between 2010 and 2020, the world Jewish population grew by 6%, primarily driven by natural population growth in Israel and steady immigration rates. This growth pattern represents modest but consistent demographic expansion, with Israel showing the most robust increases while diaspora communities in Europe and Latin America face declining numbers due to aging populations, intermarriage, and emigration.

Interesting Stats & Facts About World Jewish Population 2025

Data Sources: Pew Research Center 2025, American Jewish Year Book 2024, Jewish Virtual Library, Hebrew University Jerusalem (Sergio DellaPergola), Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

The statistics reveal several compelling trends in the global Jewish population. Israel has experienced remarkable demographic growth, with Jewish births increasing by 73% from 1995 to 2024, reaching 138,698 annual births. This growth is attributed to high levels of optimism, patriotism, and a cultural emphasis on family, resulting in one of the highest fertility rates in the developed world at 3.0 children per woman. In contrast, diaspora communities face demographic challenges including low birth rates, aging populations, and significant intermarriage rates ranging from 14% in Belgium to 76% in Poland.

The Jewish population distribution has shifted dramatically over the past century. While 57% of world Jewry lived in Europe in 1939, today only 10% reside on the continent. The modern Jewish diaspora is concentrated in English-speaking countries, particularly North America, which experienced a 1% population increase from 2010 to 2020. Meanwhile, the Middle East-North Africa region, consisting almost exclusively of Israel, saw an 18% population increase during the same period. These demographic shifts reflect both the devastating impact of the Holocaust and subsequent migration patterns driven by economic opportunities, political stability, and the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.

Israel Jewish Population Statistics 2025

Israel stands as the epicenter of contemporary Jewish life, housing the largest concentration of Jews in any single country. The nation’s Jewish population has grown steadily since its establishment in 1948, when only 806,000 residents called the new state home.

Data Sources: Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Jewish Virtual Library, Times of Israel, American Jewish Year Book 2025

Israel’s Jewish population demonstrates remarkable vitality compared to diaspora communities. The country recorded 181,000 total births in 2024, with 76% born to Jewish mothers. This represents a 73% increase in Jewish births since 1995, reflecting a society growing younger rather than older. Deaths among Israeli Jews totaled 41,345 in 2023, showing only a 31% increase since 1996 despite the population nearly doubling during that period. This favorable ratio between births and deaths contributes to Israel’s robust demographic position.

The geographic distribution within Israel shows 91.39% of the population living in urban areas, with a population density of 440-461 people per square kilometer. The Tel Aviv metropolitan area experiences an annual growth rate of 1.8%, while the southern regions of Israel are growing at 2.4% annually. The Jewish population in Judea and Samaria (West Bank) reached 529,455 residents in 2024, growing at more than double Israel’s overall rate at 2.33% annually. Combined with approximately 340,000 Jews living in eastern Jerusalem neighborhoods beyond the Green Line, the total Jewish population in these territories exceeds 870,000 people.

Regarding religious observance, 42.7% of Israeli Jews identify as secular, 33.5% as traditional, 12.0% as religious, and 11.4% as ultra-Orthodox (Haredi). Fertility rates vary dramatically by group: Haredi communities average 6.1 children per woman, Bedouin Arabs 4.4, non-Haredi Jews 2.4, Arabs 2.2, and Druze 1.8. Immigration continues to strengthen Israel’s demographic position, with the Law of Return having facilitated the immigration of over 3 million Jews since its passage in 1950. The largest wave occurred in the 1990s when nearly 1 million Jews emigrated from the former Soviet Union following its collapse.

United States Jewish Population 2025

The United States hosts either the largest or second-largest Jewish population in the world, depending on the definitional criteria used for counting Jews. This methodological complexity results in significantly different population estimates ranging from 5.7 million to 7.7 million people.

Data Sources: Pew Research Center 2020-2025, American Jewish Year Book 2024, Brandeis University, Hebrew University (Sergio DellaPergola)

The variation in US Jewish population estimates stems from different definitional approaches. The broader definition includes individuals who identify as Jewish by religion or ethnicity, plus children in households with at least one Jewish parent being raised with any Jewish identity. This methodology yields the 7.5-7.7 million figure. The narrower “core Jewish population” definition, preferred by demographer Sergio DellaPergola, counts only those who identify as Jewish by religion plus secular Jews with two Jewish parents, producing the lower 6.0 million estimate. The Pew Research Center’s 2025 religious population study used an even stricter definition counting only those who self-identify with Judaism as their religion, resulting in the 5.7 million figure.

Geographic concentration defines American Jewish life. New York State houses 1.77 million Jews, representing 9.1% of the state’s total population and making it home to more Jews than any other US state. The New York Metropolitan area contains 1.73 million Jews, roughly 10% of its total population. Brooklyn alone has nearly 800,000 Jews, accounting for more than one-third of the borough’s population and making it the single largest Jewish urban concentration in the United States. California ranks second with 1.19-1.23 million Jews, followed by Florida with 657,000-672,000, New Jersey with 547,000-626,000, and Pennsylvania with 434,000.

The American Jewish population has remained relatively stable from 2010 to 2020, growing by just 30,000-50,000 according to religious identification measures, or showing approximately 1% growth using broader definitions. This stability masks internal demographic shifts, with the fastest-growing segment being Jews of no religion—those who identify ethnically or culturally as Jewish but not religiously. Approximately 12-15% of American Jews identify as multiracial or Jews of color, representing about 1 million people out of the total Jewish population. The American Jewish community encompasses diverse denominational affiliations, including Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, Reconstructionist, and unaffiliated Jews, reflecting the multifaceted nature of Jewish identity in contemporary America.

European Jewish Population 2025

Europe, once home to the vast majority of world Jewry, now houses only 10% of the global Jewish population. The continent’s Jewish communities have experienced dramatic decline since World War II, falling from 9.5 million in 1939 to approximately 1.3-1.5 million today.

Data Sources: Pew Research Center 2025, American Jewish Year Book 2025, Jewish Policy Research (JPR), European Jewish Congress

France maintains Europe’s largest Jewish community with 440,000-500,000 members, primarily concentrated in Paris. The French Jewish population is 60% Sephardic, reflecting large-scale immigration from North African countries in the 1960s and 1970s following decolonization. However, France has experienced concerning emigration trends, with tens of thousands of Jews leaving for Israel between 2014 and 2017 following waves of antisemitic attacks. Despite this, France’s Jewish population has remained relatively stable compared to its 1939 level of 320,000.

The United Kingdom hosts 292,000-312,000 Jews, representing Europe’s second-largest community. British Jewry has declined by 25% since 1970 but shows potential for growth, with 33% of households having four or more children. The community is concentrated in London, where 18,000 Israeli-born Jews contribute to demographic stability. Germany’s Jewish population of 118,000-125,000 represents a remarkable recovery from near-complete destruction during the Holocaust. The community nearly tripled over fifteen years due to immigration from the former Soviet Union, with approximately 200,000 Jews arriving following the USSR’s collapse in 1990. However, Germany’s Jewish community faces a “terminal” demographic situation, with over 40% above age 65 and less than 10% under age 15, foreshadowing unavoidable future decline.

Eastern Europe has seen the most dramatic demographic collapse. In 1939, Poland, Hungary, and Romania collectively hosted 4.7 million Jews. Today, these countries combined have fewer than 100,000 Jews. Poland, which once had the largest Jewish population in Europe, now has only 4,500 Jews. The former Soviet republics, home to 3.4 million Jews in 1939, now host approximately 310,000, representing a 90% population loss. Low fertility rates characterize most European Jewish communities, with the notable exception of countries with large Orthodox populations like Belgium, where 43% of Jewish households have at least four children. Intermarriage rates vary dramatically, from 14% in Belgium to 76% in Poland, significantly impacting long-term demographic sustainability.

Canadian, Australian & Other Countries Jewish Population 2025

Beyond the major population centers, Jewish communities exist in over 100 countries worldwide, creating a truly global diaspora with remarkable diversity in size, practice, and cultural integration.

Data Sources: American Jewish Year Book 2025, World Jewish Congress, Jewish Virtual Library, Pew Research Center 2025

Canada ranks as the fifth-largest Jewish population globally with 398,000 members. The community is heavily concentrated in Toronto and Montreal, with French-speaking Montreal attracting Jews from France in recent years. Canada’s proximity to the United States and its multicultural immigration policies have made it an attractive destination. From 2010 to 2020, North America (primarily the US and Canada) experienced a modest 1% Jewish population increase, with Canada showing increased interest in Jewish immigration, up 150% in applications since the start of recent conflicts in Israel.

Australia hosts 117,200 Jews, primarily in Sydney and Melbourne, representing one of the most stable and prosperous Jewish communities in the diaspora. The Asia-Pacific region showed 2% Jewish population growth from 2010 to 2020, with Australia contributing significantly to this increase. The community maintains strong Zionist connections and has benefited from waves of immigration from South Africa, the former Soviet Union, and more recently from Israel.

Argentina maintains 171,000-180,500 Jews, making it the largest Jewish community in Latin America and the sixth-largest globally. Buenos Aires alone hosts more Jews than the combined Jewish populations of several European countries, with the city ranking as the sixteenth-largest Jewish urban center worldwide. The Argentine Jewish community peaked at 310,000 in 1960 but has declined due to economic instability and emigration, particularly during the military dictatorship of 1976-1983. Despite challenges including the devastating AMIA terrorist bombing in 1994, the community remains vibrant, with 61% identifying as secular while maintaining strong cultural Jewish identity.

Brazil’s Jewish population of 92,000 makes it the second-largest in Latin America and tenth globally. The community is well-integrated into Brazilian society, concentrated in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, with prominent institutions including the Hebraica clubs that serve as community centers combining sports, culture, and Jewish life. Brazil faces demographic challenges with an estimated 60% intermarriage rate, though the community maintains robust educational and religious institutions.

Latin America overall has approximately 390,000 Jews, experiencing a 12% decline from 2010 to 2020. This decrease reflects emigration to Israel, the United States, and economic instability in countries like Venezuela. Sub-Saharan Africa has seen the steepest decline, falling 37% to just 50,000 Jews, primarily in South Africa. Smaller Jewish communities exist in dozens of countries, with over 20 countries hosting fewer than 100 Jews. These include Armenia, Namibia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Syria, and others, often representing the remnants of once-thriving communities that have emigrated to Israel or other diaspora centers.

Jewish Population Growth Trends & Demographics 2025

The world Jewish population exhibits distinct demographic patterns that vary dramatically between Israel and diaspora communities, with implications for the future distribution and sustainability of global Jewry.

Data Sources: Hebrew University Jerusalem, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, Pew Research Center 2025, American Jewish Year Book 2025

The demographic divide between Israel and the diaspora represents the most significant trend in contemporary Jewish demography. Israel demonstrates exceptional demographic vitality with a fertility rate of 3.0 children per woman, far exceeding the 2.1 replacement level and ranking among the highest in the developed world. This robust fertility reflects multiple factors: high levels of optimism despite security challenges, strong patriotism and national identity, attachment to Jewish roots and tradition, frontier mentality encouraging family formation, and declining abortion rates (down 34% since 1990). The Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) population drives much of this growth with 6.1 children per woman, but even non-Haredi Jewish Israelis maintain 2.4 children per woman, above replacement level.

Diaspora communities face opposite demographic pressures. Europe’s Jewish population declined 8% from 2010 to 2020, with countries like Germany having more than 40% of Jews above age 65 and less than 10% under age 15. This age distribution ensures continued population decline through natural decrease (more deaths than births). Latin America experienced a 12% decline during the same period, while Sub-Saharan Africa saw a dramatic 37% decrease. Even stable communities face challenges: high intermarriage rates (ranging from 14% in Belgium to 76% in Poland), aging populations, and negative balances between those leaving Judaism and those converting.

Immigration patterns strongly favor Israel. The country maintains a positive immigration balance through Aliyah, with 35,000 new immigrants arriving in 2024. Interest has surged in recent years, with applications increasing 300% from France, 150% from Canada, 100% from the United States, and 40% from the United Kingdom since late 2023. Demographers project a potential wave of 500,000 immigrants from Ukraine, Russia, former Soviet republics, Western Europe, Argentina, the United States, and Australia in coming years. Since 1990, approximately 1.5 million Jews have made Aliyah, with 979,000 from the former Soviet Union alone between 1989 and 2006.

The proportion of world Jewry living in Israel has increased dramatically from just 6% at the state’s founding in 1948 to 45.5% in 2025. Projections suggest this will approach 50% by 2030, meaning for the first time in nearly 2,000 years, the majority of world Jewry may reside in the historic homeland. This shift fundamentally alters the nature of Jewish peoplehood, with Israel transitioning from a community among many to the demographic and cultural center of global Jewry. The 16.8 million total including the “enlarged” Jewish population (those with partial Jewish heritage) may finally exceed the pre-Holocaust peak of 16.6 million within the next few years, marking a significant milestone in Jewish demographic recovery.

Ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) Jewish Population Growth 2025

The Haredi Jewish population represents the fastest-growing segment of world Jewry, with demographic trends that will fundamentally reshape the Jewish community over the coming decades. This ultra-Orthodox population demonstrates extraordinary growth rates that far exceed both general Jewish population growth and global population increases.

Data Sources: Institute for Jewish Policy Research 2022-2025, Israel Democracy Institute 2024-2025, Times of Israel, Israel Central Bureau of Statistics

The Haredi population drives 70-80% of total Jewish population growth worldwide. This extraordinary expansion results from the combined effects of exceptionally high fertility rates and very low mortality rates due to modern healthcare. The fertility rate among Haredi communities has moderated slightly from 7.5 children per woman in 2003-2005 to 6.5-6.7 in 2019-2024, but remains far higher than any other Jewish demographic group. For comparison, non-Haredi Israeli Jews average 2.4 children per woman, while diaspora Jews typically have 1.4-2.0 children per woman, below replacement level. The Haredi population’s median age remains exceptionally young, with more than half under age 20, ensuring continued rapid growth for decades.

Geographic concentration defines Haredi demographics. In Israel, 42.6% of all ultra-Orthodox Jews live in just two cities: Jerusalem (26%) and Bnei Brak (16.6%). An additional 23.7% reside in satellite cities including Beit Shemesh, Modi’in Illit, Beitar Illit, and Elad. Together, these ultra-Orthodox strongholds account for 77.8% of Israel’s Haredi population. In the United States, most Haredim concentrate in the greater New York metropolitan area, where 61% of all Jewish children in the eight-county region were Orthodox by 2011, with Haredim constituting 49%. Brooklyn alone houses massive Haredi communities, with neighborhoods like Borough Park, Williamsburg, and Crown Heights serving as population centers. The UK Haredi population concentrates primarily in North London neighborhoods like Stamford Hill and Golders Green.

The Haredi population presents significant socioeconomic challenges alongside demographic vitality. In Israel, 44-47% of Haredi households live below the poverty line (compared to 22-28% nationally), reflecting the community’s emphasis on religious study over employment. Only 54% of Haredi men participate in the workforce (down from 55.5% in 2023), compared to 83-88% of non-Haredi Jewish men. Among yeshiva and kollel students, the number increased 83% from 2014 to 2024, outpacing the 69% increase in employed Haredi men. However, 80-81% of Haredi women work, nearly matching the 83% employment rate among non-Haredi Jewish women. Income disparities remain stark: Haredi men earn 49% of what non-Haredi Jewish men earn (NIS 9,929 vs 20,464 monthly), while Haredi women earn 67% of non-Haredi women’s income (NIS 8,617 vs 13,057).

Educational patterns perpetuate these economic challenges. Only 16% of Haredi students met eligibility criteria for a matriculation certificate in 2021-2022, compared to 85% of students in other Jewish school systems. This lack of secular education limits employment opportunities, though it preserves the community’s distinct identity and religious devotion. Politically, the growing Haredi population wields increasing influence: 20% of all Israeli students attend Haredi schools in 2023-2024, representing 26% of Hebrew education streams. By 2030, 25% of all Israelis under age 20 will be Haredi. Despite economic challenges, Haredi communities demonstrate remarkable resilience and cohesion, with 86% donating to charity (vs 58% of non-Haredi Jews) and 40% volunteering in their communities (vs 23% non-Haredi). The ultra-Orthodox population’s explosive growth trajectory positions it to become the dominant force shaping Israeli society and a substantial portion of world Jewry within a single generation.

Major Jewish Cities & Metropolitan Areas 2025

The global Jewish population concentrates heavily in major metropolitan areas, with more than half of world Jewry residing in just ten cities. This urban concentration reflects historical migration patterns, economic opportunities, and the need for community infrastructure including synagogues, Jewish schools, kosher establishments, and social services.

Data Sources: UJA-Federation New York, Jewish Virtual Library, American Jewish Year Book 2024-2025, Jewish Population by City Studies

New York City maintains the distinction of housing the largest Jewish community in any single city worldwide. The broader New York Metropolitan Area encompasses 1.73-1.80 million Jews, representing roughly 10% of the region’s total population and accounting for approximately 11-12% of world Jewry. The five boroughs of New York City proper contain 1.086 million Jews, making up 13% of the city’s population. Brooklyn alone has transformed into the single largest Jewish urban concentration on Earth, with nearly 800,000 Jews representing more than one-third of the borough’s population. Neighborhoods like Borough Park, Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Flatbush, and Midwood have become vibrant centers of Orthodox and Haredi Jewish life, with visible communities, extensive Jewish infrastructure, and Yiddish as a common street language in some areas.

Israel’s major cities constitute the second tier of global Jewish population centers. The Tel Aviv Metropolitan Area, including surrounding cities like Ramat Gan, Givatayim, Holon, and Bat Yam, houses 1.5-1.7 million Jews, making it the second-largest Jewish metropolitan concentration globally. The region experiences annual growth of 1.8% and serves as Israel’s economic, cultural, and technological hub. Jerusalem, with 815,000-900,000 Jews, functions as Israel’s capital and spiritual center for world Jewry. The city’s growth rate exceeds the national average, driven largely by high Haredi birth rates. The Haifa Metropolitan Area, including Haifa proper and surrounding northern coastal cities, contains approximately 498,000 Jews.

North American cities beyond New York host substantial Jewish populations. Los Angeles ranks as the second-largest Jewish community in the United States with 662,000 Jews, concentrated in neighborhoods like Beverly Hills, West Hollywood, Pico-Robertson, and the San Fernando Valley. The Miami Metropolitan Area has 485,000 Jews, with particularly large concentrations in Miami Beach, Aventura, and Boca Raton, attracting many retirees and South American Jewish immigrants. Philadelphia (301,000), Chicago (295,000), San Francisco Bay Area (293,000), and Boston (261,000) complete the major American Jewish urban centers.

European Jewish populations concentrate in capital cities. Paris hosts 280,000-300,000 Jews, making it Europe’s largest Jewish urban center and home to more than half of France’s total Jewish population. The community primarily resides in the 17th, 18th, and 19th arrondissements, as well as in suburban areas like Sarcelles. London has approximately 280,000 Jews, with major communities in North London (Golders Green, Hendon, Finchley) and Northeast London (Stamford Hill, the largest Haredi community in Europe). Other significant European Jewish cities include Moscow (95,000), Budapest (80,000), Berlin (40,000), and Vienna (15,000). Latin America’s largest Jewish city is Buenos Aires with 180,000 Jews, ranking as the sixteenth-largest Jewish urban center globally. São Paulo has 60,000 Jews, Montreal contains 90,000, and Toronto has 200,000. This urban concentration means that the fate of global Jewish communities depends heavily on the vitality and security of these major metropolitan centers.

The world Jewish population stands at a historic crossroads in 2025, with demographic trends pointing toward fundamental transformation of the global Jewish community over the coming decades. The continued growth of Israel’s Jewish population, combined with declining or stagnant diaspora communities, will likely result in Israel housing more than half of world Jewry by 2030. This demographic shift carries profound implications for Jewish identity, culture, and communal organization. The increasing proportion of Haredi and Orthodox Jews within both Israel and diaspora communities suggests a more religiously observant Jewish population overall, as secular and liberal Jewish communities struggle with low fertility and high intermarriage rates. The projected increase to 16.4 million Jews globally by 2060, according to Pew Research Center forecasts, would finally surpass pre-Holocaust population levels, though the geographic and religious composition will differ dramatically from 1939.

Challenges facing diaspora communities require urgent attention to ensure their long-term viability. European Jewish populations face particularly acute demographic decline, with aging communities and emigration to Israel eroding century-old establishments. Latin American Jewry must navigate political instability and economic challenges while maintaining Jewish identity and institutions. Even stable North American communities face questions about continuity given rising intermarriage rates and declining religious affiliation among younger generations. However, opportunities exist through renewed emphasis on Jewish education, innovative community engagement, and leveraging technology to connect dispersed communities. The strengthening of Israel-diaspora relations, increased Jewish pride following recent global events, and growing interest in Jewish heritage among younger generations offer hope. The next decade will determine whether diaspora communities can stabilize their populations and maintain vibrant Jewish life outside Israel, or whether the 21st century will see the demographic center of Judaism consolidate almost exclusively in the historic homeland, fundamentally reshaping Jewish civilization for centuries to come.

Disclaimer: This research report is compiled from publicly available sources. While reasonable efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, no representation or warranty, express or implied, is given as to the completeness or reliability of the information. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions, losses, or damages of any kind arising from the use of this report.

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