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How many jews are there in the world
Executive summary
Estimates for the global Jewish population in 2024–2025 cluster between roughly 15.3 million and 16.5 million people, equal to about 0.2% of the world’s population (figures vary by definition and source) [1] [2] [3]. Major demographers and institutions note differences arise from whether counts use a narrow “core” definition (those who identify only as Jewish), broader self‑identification, or eligibility under Israel’s Law of Return [1] [3].
1. Why different numbers appear: definitions and methodology matter
Counting “how many Jews” is not a single neutral measurement: some sources report a “core Jewish” population (those who identify as Jewish to the exclusion of other religions), others add people with partial Jewish ancestry or those eligible for aliyah under the Law of Return; the American Jewish Year Book, Jewish Agency, Pew and other compilers use different criteria and datasets, which produces totals from roughly 15.3 million to 16.5 million or higher when expanded groups are included [1] [3] [4].
2. Recent headline totals and who produced them
Contemporary public figures include roughly 15.3–15.8 million (Jewish Agency, World Data, Welcome‑Israel) and a 16.5 million “core” estimate cited on the Jewish population by country page; Pew’s global religious landscape reporting emphasizes Jews make up about 0.2% of the world population and found roughly a 6% increase from 2010–2020, mostly due to Israeli growth [3] [2] [1] [5].
3. Where most Jews live: Israel and the United States dominate
Virtually all sources agree most Jews are concentrated in Israel and the United States: estimates commonly place roughly 7–7.4 million in Israel and about 5.7–6.9 million in the U.S., together accounting for roughly 80–86% of global Jewry depending on the dataset used [4] [6] [7] [3].
4. Short‑ and long‑term trends: modest growth, uneven geography
Between 2010 and 2020 Jewish numbers rose by about 6% worldwide, a slower rate than global population growth; the rise is attributed mainly to natural increase in Israel and higher birthrates among Haredi/Orthodox communities, while many diaspora communities (especially in Europe and Latin America) have remained flat or declined [1] [5] [8].
5. Historical context and remaining gaps versus pre‑Holocaust levels
Demographers note world Jewry has not yet fully recovered to pre‑World War II estimates (around 16.6 million in 1939); several analysts project it may take another decade or two to approach those numbers, contingent on fertility, migration and identity shifts [1] [9].
6. Sources disagree publicly about U.S. counts and methodology limits
Researchers such as DellaPergola, Sheskin and Dashefsky, the Jewish Agency and Pew differ on how best to estimate U.S. Jews; some historical series undercount American Jews until newer surveys and methodological adjustments were used, which changes global totals [10] [11] [4]. Available sources do not mention a single universally accepted “final” number because national censuses, community studies and self‑identification surveys vary.
7. Practical takeaways for readers asking “how many Jews are there?”
If you need a short answer, leading recent public estimates place the total at roughly 15.3–15.8 million (Jewish Agency, World Data) to 16.5 million under a strict “core” definition cited in compilations — all approximating 0.2% of the global population [3] [2] [1]. For analytic work, cite the source and definition you rely on: “core Jewish population,” “self‑identified Jews,” or “people eligible under the Law of Return” yield materially different totals [1] [3].
8. What to watch next—data releases and contested points
Upcoming or periodic outputs to monitor include the American Jewish Year Book (DellaPergola), Jewish Agency updates, Pew Research Center religious landscape reports and national surveys; debates will continue about U.S. methodology, diaspora declines, and how to count mixed‑identity and secular Jews [11] [5] [10]. These sources explicitly flag the estimation challenges and therefore should be cited when asserting any single figure [5].
Limitations: this summary is based on the provided reporting and datasets; available sources do not mention a single definitive global census figure and show differences in counting rules and vintage that explain the range of estimates [1] [3] [5].