- The number of Jews worldwide continues to rise. Alongside this overall growth, the share of Israeli Jews in the world Jewish population is climbing. The consistency of this trend justifies a slight positive movement of the demographic gauge.
- The growing proportion of Jewish belonging to the older age groups entails monitoring and an adjustment in the distribution of communal resources, as well as a gradual increase in the funds and services intended for this population, which is gradually reaching retirement age and becoming available for other activities. Among other things, adult Jewish education services need to be planned and expanded. Not only can enriching people’s knowledge of the Jewish bookshelf, Jewish history, and Jewish customs/values help reinforce their Jewish identity; in the case of older learners, such enrichment can have a broader impact on the family circle and on Jewish society as a whole. At the same time, Jewish communities and organizations, at the local, national, and international levels, need to prepare for leadership transitions in the Jewish world.
- Israel is now a medium-sized country. As its population grows, the more varied its human mosaic becomes, and this can translate into tension between sectors. At the same time, population growth is enhancing Israeli society’s productive and entrepreneurial capabilities, with positive implications for human capital and the local economy.11 These opportunities will multiply should the trend continue of large sectors, the Haredi and Arab Israeli sectors in particular, joining the labor market.
World Jewish Population and Immigrants to Israel by Major Countries, 2018
| Country | Jewish Population, 2018A | Cumulative Percentage | Aliyah to Israel, 2017B |
| Total | 14,606,000 | – | 26,357 |
| Israel | 6558100 | 44.9 | – |
| US | 5700000 | 83.9 | 2567 |
| France | 453000 | 87 | 3157 |
| Canada | 390500 | 89.7 | 280 |
| England | 290000 | 91.7 | 468 |
| Argentina | 180300 | 92.9 | 246 |
| Russia | 172000 | 94.1 | 7135 |
| Germany | 116000 | 94.9 | 155 |
| Australia | 113000 | 95.7 | 138 |
| Brazil | 93200 | 96.3 | 618 |
| South Africa | 69000 | 96.8 | 281 |
| Ukraine | 50000 | 97.1 | 7046 |
| Hungary | 47000 | 97.4 | 52 |
| Mexico | 40000 | 97.7 | 76 |
| Netherlands | 29800 | 97.9 | 50 |
| Belgium | 29200 | 98.1 | 117 |
| Italy | 27500 | 98.3 | 115 |
| Switzerland | 18600 | 98.4 | 84 |
| Chile | 18300 | 98.6 | 26 |
| Uruguay | 16700 | 98.7 | 69 |
| All the rest | 193800 | 100 | 3677 |
A) Source: Sergio DellaPergola. “World Jewish Population, 2018,” in Arnold Dashefsky and Ira M. Sheskin. (Editors) The American Jewish Year Book, 2018, Volume 118 (2018) (Dordrecht: Springer) pp. 361-452.
B) Source: Central Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Abstract of Israel, 2018, Table 4.4.
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