Top 17 Countries with the Highest Jewish Population (Updated)
Top Countries With The Highest Jewish Population |
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How many Jewish people in the world right now?
Estimates place the global Jewish population at around 14 million. The highest population concentrations are in the United States and Israel, but it is spread across many countries. In Israel, Jews make up 74% of the total population, whereas in the United States, they make up about 2.2%.
The percentages vary significantly elsewhere: Jews make up 0.7% of the population in Russia but only 0.2% in France. The proportion of Canadians who identify as Jewish is 1.1%, while Germany has a higher concentration (1.4%). Beyond North America and Israel, the countries with the largest Jewish populations are Australia, Canada, France, Russia, and Germany.
The data presented shows that there is significant regional variation in the degree of religious observance among Jews around the world; while some countries have a sizable Jewish population, others have negligible or none at all. Despite its diversity, Judaism remains one of the most widely observed religions in the world, with a significant global presence spanning multiple countries and continents.
Which nation has the most inhabitants globally?
In the conventional sense, a Jewish country does not exist, given that Judaism is a religious organization and not a political one. Nevertheless, Israel is frequently denoted as a "Jewish state" due to its origins as a homeland exclusively for the Jewish people. An abundance of laws and policies in Israel are influenced by Jewish values and traditions, and the country has a majority Jewish population; Judaism is an integral part of Israel's national identity.
Although other nations, including France and the United States, also have substantial Jewish populations that have made significant contributions to their respective societies, they are not regarded as Jewish countries to the same extent as Israel. In essence, the concept of a Jewish nation is intricate and multifaceted, mirroring the varied experiences and identities of the Jewish global community.
Which nations have the least number of Jews?
The nations comprising the smallest Jewish populations, with a count of 100 or less, are Taiwan, Armenia, Bermuda, Egypt, Syria, Slovenia, and South Korea.
What Influences Jewish Demographics?
Regrettably, the statistical data utilized to ascertain Jewish demographics is frequently constrained, rendering an exact estimation of the global Jewish population unattainable. Various factors can influence these demographics:
-The increase in antisemitism worldwide has caused many Jews to fear for their safety when identifying as Jewish;
-Intermarriage has resulted in a significant number of Jews being unaware of or unwilling to acknowledge their Jewish heritage.
-The population growth of the Jewish people is impacted by their low fertility rates.
According to a 2015 study, the Jewish population is projected to reach 16 million by 2050, with the United States ranking second and Israel having the largest Jewish population.
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What are the effects of Jewish immigration on Jewish communities?The immigration of Jews has drastically altered Jewish communities throughout the globe. Existing communities have been enriched with new perspectives, traditions, and customs; in areas previously devoid of Jewish presence, new ones have been established in response to the influx of Jews. |
What is the ratio of the Jewish population to the total population of various nations?In most nations, the Jewish population constitutes a relatively small minority. Israel, on the other hand, is an exception in which the Jewish population comprises more than 75% of the total populace. In Canada and the United States, among other nations, the Jewish population constitutes less than 2% of the overall populace. |
Top 10+ Countries With The Highest Jewish Population Updated
1. Israel
Jewish Population: 6.9 million
Seventy-three years later, in 2022, the Jewish population in Israel had increased from 600,000 at the time of the country's independence proclamation in 1948 to 7.1 million. The percentage of Jews in Israel is currently 73.6%, and this figure is steadily increasing.
Jerusalem, with its 576,592 Jewish inhabitants, holds the distinction of being the city in Israel with the largest Jewish population. With 420,335 Jews, Tel Aviv has the second largest Jewish population in Israel. The cities in Israel comprising the largest Jewish populations are as follows:
-Haifa: 211,847;
-Petach Tikvah: 230,726
-Bnei Brak has 211,062 inhabitants, while Ashdod has 202,134.
As the number of individuals making Aliyah continues to rise, Israel is anticipated to soon have the largest Jewish population of any nation.
READ MORE: Israel - Arab World Conflict: Background, History and Key Events
2. US
Population of Jews: 6.5 million
The United States ranks second globally in terms of Jewish population, trailing only Israel, which has 5,425,000 Jews. The United States of America's large Jewish population contributed to the fact that the majority of Jews fleeing religious discrimination in European countries during World War II fled to the country. As a result, they were able to freely practice their religious rituals and express themselves without fear of hate crimes they had witnessed in Europe during the twentieth century. Approximately 90% of the Jewish population in the United States consists of Ashkenazi Jews, who are the diaspora Jewish people descended from those who settled along the Rhine River in northern France and western Germany.
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3. France
Jewish Population: 450,000
Apart from Israel and the United States, France is home to the largest Jewish population in Europe, comprising approximately 480,000 individuals who were born or continue to reside in the regions of Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg, and Toulouse. Affected by anti-Semitic practices, French Jews were subjected to all hate crimes and violent acts committed against them in Europe. All French Jews, however, managed to survive the Holocaust.
Furthermore, the rationale behind the migration of millions of Jews to France during the 19th century was that swarms of Jews who had lived in colonies of the Mediterranean and North Africa fled their homelands and settled in France, the nation that had been colonizing their territories at the time. The majority of Jews are Mizrahi Jews, who originated in Iraq, Syria, Bahrain, Kuwait, Dagestan, Azerbaijan, Iran, Uzbekistan, the Caucasus, Kurdistan, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Yemen, and Sephardi Jews, who originated in North Africa.
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4. Canada
Jewish Population: 393,000
Canada ranks fourth among nations in terms of Jewish population. It maintains this status despite having a Jewish population of 380,000. The majority of Jewish Canadians are concentrated in the provinces of Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Manitoba. Canada boasts a rich tapestry of Jewish doctrines, as it extends a warm reception to Candian Jews of Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Mizrahi heritage.
The initial Jewish immigrants to Canada were predominantly British soldiers of origin. The Jews who migrated to Canada did so as a refuge from the heinous anti-Semitic crimes that were committed against them throughout Europe.
5. United Kingdom
Jewish Population: 292,000
Presently, it is! Europe's second largest country with a Jewish population, following France, with a population of 290 thousand. It is the fifth largest country in the world with a Jewish population. On account of their initial arrival in the United Kingdom in 1070, Jews were prohibited from entering the country for the next two centuries. In the 19th century, the British authorities mandated resettlement for Jews in England.
6. Argentina
Jewish Population: 180,000
When one considers Jews of Latin America, the name Argentian immediately comes to mind. Latin America, contrary to popular belief, does not have a dense Jewish population like North America, Europe, or Israel. Despite this, Argentina is home to a sizeable Jewish population. Around 182,000 Argentine Jews make up the country's Jewish population, the largest in all of Latin America.
In the sixteenth century, Jews arrived in Argentina for the first time following persecution during the Spanish Inquisition. The regions of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Santa Fe, Entre Rios, and Tucumán are where the majority of Argentine Jews reside. Within the Jewish community of Argentina, there are Ashkenazi, Sephardic, and Mizrahi Jews.
7. Russia
Jewish Population: 165,000
Russia was historically a haven that welcomed and accommodated a sizable Jewish population, despite the fact that many members of the Jewish community in Russia perished or were denied their full rights as a result of anti-Semitism and persecution that pervaded the entire country. Consequently, throughout the 1980s and 1990s, a great number of Jewish citizens fled to Israel, their own holy land. Notwithstanding these circumstances, Russia maintains a Jewish population of 190,000, which ranks it as the third largest among European countries.
8. Germany
Jewish Population: 118,000
Germany punishes approximately 118,000 Jews with curds. The Jews have a long and tumultuous history with it. During World War II, Germany was not in the least bit secure environment for Jews. Particularly during the reign of Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, they were not welcomed inside. The majority of Jews escaped Germany due to the Nazi regime.
At the end of the twentieth century, a relatively small number of Jews returned to Germany. If you are interested in learning more about the rich and significant history of Jews in Germany, I recommend that you peruse Anna Fank's Diaries. She was a German adolescent who escaped her country and infiltrated the Netherlands.
9. Australia
Jewish Population: 118,000
Australia has an approximate Jewish population of 113,000, which ranks it as the ninth largest Jewish population in the world. The majority of Australian Jews reside in cosmopolitan areas such as Melbourne, Sydney, and others, which obscures their diverse identities. It goes without saying that England was the country of origin for immigrants from Europe who settled in Australia during the 19th century. Similarly, Jewish immigration to Australia occurred concurrently.
10. Brazil
Jewish Population: 92,600
Following Argentina, Brazil has the tenth largest Jewish population in South America. There are approximately 95,000 Jews residing there. The majority of the Jewish population in Brazil resides in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. The initial Jewish settlement in Brazil occurred during the Inquisition that swept through Spain and Portugal in the sixteenth century.
Subsequent Jews who escaped from Europe sought refuge in Brazil due to its isolation from the Nazi regime. Additionally, Jews who had previously resided in Russia and felt threatened during the Russian Revolution of the nineteenth century fled to Brazil.
11. South Africa
Jewish Population: 51,000
12. Hungary
Jewish Population: 47,000
13. Ukraine
Jewish Population: 43,000
14. Mexico
Jewish Population: 40,000
15. The Netherlands
Jewish Population: 30,000
16. Belgium
Jewish Population: 29,000
17. Italy
Jewish Population: 27,000
Interesting Facts About Jewish Population Across Nations
-There are roughly 14 million Jews in the world.
-Judaism comprises 74% of the population of Israel, whereas in the United States, it comprises 2.2%.
-The Middle East-North Africa region (41%), and North America (44%) are the primary locations of Jewish people.
-The percentage of Jews in France is 0.7%, whereas in Russia it is a mere 0.2%.
-Germany has a 1.4% Jewish population, compared to 1.1% in Canada.
-Europe (10%), Latin America and the Caribbean (3%), Asia-Pacific (1-2%), and sub-Saharan Africa (less than 1%) are the regions with the largest Jewish populations.
-2% of the populations of North America and the Middle East and North Africa identify as Jewish.
-82% of Jews reside in Israel (41%), the United States (41%), or both.
-Israel stands as the sole nation with a majority of Jews (76 percent).
-The concentration of 90% of the global Jewish population is confined to a mere six countries.
-In fifty years, millions of Jews could be added with a 0.4% increase in fertility.
In Conclusion
There are currently more than 15 million Jews in the world. Israel (with 7.1 million Jews) and the United States (with 7.3 million Jews overall) are the two countries with the biggest Jewish populations.
By 2050, there are projected to be 16 million Jews worldwide, almost matching the number of Jews in the world in 1939, just before World War II broke out.
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