Estimating the global Jewish population is a complex task, yet understanding these demographics provides crucial insights into Jewish life, history, and contemporary trends. While pinpointing an exact figure is challenging due to varying definitions of Jewish identity and data collection methods, we can explore the available estimates to gain a comprehensive understanding.
Recent studies, such as those conducted by the Pew Research Center, offer valuable data. In the United States, for example, approximately 5.8 million adults identify as Jewish, representing about 2.4% of the adult population. This figure includes both those who identify as Jewish by religion (around 4.2 million) and Jews of no religion (about 1.5 million). “Jews of no religion” are defined as individuals who, while not religiously Jewish, have a Jewish parent or upbringing and consider themselves Jewish culturally, ethnically, or due to family background.
It’s important to note that definitions matter significantly when counting Jewish populations. Beyond those who identify as Jewish, there are individuals with a Jewish background. In the U.S., an additional 2.8 million adults have Jewish ancestry, meaning they have at least one Jewish parent or were raised Jewish. However, the majority of this group, roughly 1.9 million, identify with another religion, often Christianity, while about 700,000 have no religion and do not consider themselves Jewish in any way. A smaller group of about 200,000 identify as Jewish by religion but also follow another religion, which typically excludes them from core Jewish population counts in many reports.
Looking at children in the U.S., approximately 2.4 million children live in households with at least one Jewish adult, constituting 3.2% of all U.S. children. This includes children being raised Jewish in some capacity, whether exclusively by religion, or Jewish but not religiously, or even being raised in both Judaism and another religion. Around 600,000 U.S. children live with a Jewish adult but are not being raised Jewish in any way.
Combining adult and child populations within the U.S. based on these definitions, the Pew Research Center estimates a total of 7.5 million Jews of all ages in the United States, or 2.4% of the total U.S. population. This figure is reached by adding the 5.8 million adult Jews to 1.8 million children being raised Jewish in some way.
These U.S. figures provide a microcosm for understanding the complexities of global Jewish population counts. Definitions of Jewish identity vary, and different demographic studies employ diverse methodologies, leading to a range of estimates worldwide.
Globally, the Jewish population is concentrated primarily in two countries: Israel and the United States. Israel has the largest Jewish population in the world. Following the U.S., significant Jewish communities exist in France, Canada, Russia, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and Brazil. Smaller communities are dispersed across numerous other countries.
Demographer Sergio DellaPergola, a leading expert in Jewish demographics, estimates the “core” Jewish population worldwide to be around 15 million people. This “core” population typically includes individuals who identify as Jewish by religion and those of Jewish parentage who do not identify with another religion. However, broader definitions, encompassing those with Jewish background or affinity, would yield higher figures.
Comparing current estimates to historical data highlights the profound impact of the Holocaust on Jewish demographics. Prior to World War II, the global Jewish population was approximately 17 million. The systematic murder of around 6 million Jews during the Holocaust decimated European Jewry and significantly reduced the worldwide Jewish population. It took until around 2005 for the global Jewish population to recover to pre-Holocaust numbers.
The question of “How Many Jews Are There In The World” is not just a matter of numbers. It reflects complex issues of identity, history, and demography. While precise figures may vary depending on definitions and methodologies, the available data provides a valuable snapshot of the global Jewish community today and its demographic trends. Understanding these numbers is essential for Jewish organizations, researchers, and anyone interested in global demographics and religious populations.
Different organizations and researchers employ various methods to estimate Jewish populations. The American Jewish Year Book, for instance, publishes annual estimates based on aggregated data from local Jewish community studies and census data. The American Jewish Population Project (AJPP) at Brandeis University uses Bayesian analysis of surveys combined with local community studies. DellaPergola utilizes a wide range of sources and demographic factors for his global estimates. These diverse approaches contribute to the range of available figures, but each offers valuable perspectives on Jewish demography.
The ongoing study of Jewish population trends is crucial for understanding the dynamics of Jewish communities worldwide, planning for the future, and remembering the impact of historical events on Jewish peoplehood.
