On the eve of Rosh Hashana 5779, the Jewish population in the world reached 14.7 million, up slightly from last year’s 14.6 million.

Of the total population, approximately 8.1 live in the Diaspora (of whom 5.7 in the US), while the number of Jews in Israel totals 6.6 million (up from 6.5 the previous year), in addition to 400,000 Law-Of-Return citizens (who are not listed as Jews with the Civil Registration). These numbers were provided by Professor Sergio Della Pergola of Hebrew University.

These statistics refer to all those who define themselves as Jews and do not identify themselves with any other religious community. According to this research, the number of people potentially eligible under the Law of Return amounts to 23.5 million.

The largest Jewish communities are as follows:

USA 5.7M

France 453,000

Canada 391,000

United Kingdom 290,000

Argentina 180,000

Russia 172,000

Germany 116,000

Australia 113,000

Brazil 93,000

South Africa 69,000

Ukraine 50,000

Hungary 47,000

Mexico 40,000

Netherlands 30,000

Belgium 29,000

Italy 28,000

Switzerland 19,000

Chile 18,000

In Arab and Muslim countries the Jewish population is estimated at 27,000, with 15,000 in Turkey, 8,500 in Iran, 2000 in Morocco and 1000 in Tunisia.

Countries with 500 Jews or less are, among others: Bermuda, Bahamas, Bolivia, Cuba, Cyprus, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Jamaica, Virgin Islands, Malta, Slovenia, Surinam, Macedonia, Armenia, Kirghizstan, Turkmenistan, Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Congo, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Yemen, Syria and Egypt.