Jewish Population Statistics

Jewish Population in the United States, 2012

Jewish Population in the United States, 2012 (PDF), by Drs. Ira Sheskin and Arnold Dashefsky, which appears as Chapter 5 in the new American Jewish Year Book - Volume 109-112, estimates the US Jewish population at well over 6 million, based upon (1) scientific estimates derived from random digit dialing and occasionally Distinctive Jewish Names [DJN] survey methodologies, (2) United States Census estimates of communities that are almost 100% Jewish, (3) Informant Estimates and (4) Internet Estimates. See "Part 1: Population Estimation Methodology" for more information. This article is reprinted as Current Jewish Population Reports, #6 - 2012 and is posted with permission of Springer, the new publisher of the American Jewish Year Book. The Year Book had been published in 108 volumes from 1899 to 2008, most recently by the American Jewish Committee. An Excel spreadsheet of the 2012 population size tables is also provided. (Also see the American Jewish Year Book 2012 Flyer.)

Jewish Population in the United States, 2011

Jewish Population in the United States, 2011 (PDF) by Drs. Ira Sheskin and Arnold Dashefsky provides estimates of the size of the Jewish population for more than 900 Jewish communities and parts thereof as well as State and Regional totals. The report estimates the US Jewish population at 6,588,000, based upon (1) scientific estimates derived from random digit dialing and occasionally Distinctive Jewish Names [DJN] survey methodologies, (2) United States Census estimates of communities that are almost 100% Jewish, (3) Informant Estimates and (4) Internet Estimates; see "Part I: Population Estimation Methodology" for more information. An Excel spreadsheet of the 2011 population size tables is also provided. This spreadsheet also includes about 250 small Jewish communities with less than 100 Jews. In addition, vignettes reporting on the results of local Jewish community studies in Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Detroit, MI; Howard County, MD; Jacksonville, FL; New Haven, CT; Philadelphia, PA; Rhode Island, St.. Paul, MN; San Diego, CA; Tampa Bay, FL; and Tucson, AZ are provided. Data are analyzed from four tables that compare Jewish communities on the levels of anti-Semitism experienced and perceived in these communities. Finally, maps are presented showing the location of Jewish communities in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts.

Jewish Population in the United States, 2010

Jewish Population in the United States, 2010 (PDF) by Drs. Ira Sheskin and Arnold Dashefsky provides estimates of the size of the Jewish population for more than 900 Jewish communities and parts thereof as well as State and Regional totals. An Excel spreadsheet of the 2010 population size tables is also provided. In addition, vignettes reporting on the results of local Jewish community studies in The Berkshires, MA; Broward County, FL; Cincinnati, OH; Hartford, CT; Middlesex County, NJ; Phoenix, AZ; and Pittsburgh, PA are provided. Data are analyzed from four tables that compare Jewish communities on the percentage of persons in Jewish households who are age 65 and Over; the percentage of adult children who remain in the community in which they were raised, emotional attachment to Israel, and the number of Holocaust Survivors and children of Holocaust Survivors. Finally, maps are presented showing the location of Jewish communities in Florida and New Jersey.

World Jewish Population, 2012

World Jewish Population, 2012 (PDF), by Dr. Sergio DellaPergola, which appears as Chapter 6 in the new American Jewish Year Book - Volume 109-112, estimates the World's Jewish population at 13,746,100, an increase of 88,300 (0.65%) over the previous year's estimates. The United States and Israel each accounted for about 40% of the total; another 16 countries, each with more than 18,000 Jews, accounted for another 16% of the total; and another more than 75 countries, each with Jewish populations below 18,000, accounted for the remaining 2%. This article is reprinted as Current Jewish Population Reports, #7 - 2012 and is posted with permission of Springer, the new publisher of the American Jewish Year Book. (Also see the American Jewish Year Book 2012 Flyer.)

World Jewish Population, 2010

World Jewish Population, 2010 (PDF) by Dr. Sergio DellaPergola presents Jewish population data by country, covering the Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa and Oceania. "The Jewish population data for 2010 presented in this report were updated from 2009 or previous years in accordance with known or estimated changes in vital events, migrations, and identificational issues. In the updating procedure, whether exact data on intervening changes were available, empirically ascertained or assumed directions of change were applied and consistently added to or subtracted from previous estimates. If the evidence was that intervening changes balanced one another, Jewish population size was not changed. This procedure has proven highly effective. Most often, when improved Jewish population estimates reflecting a new census or socio-demographic survey became available, our annually updated estimates proved to be on target."

Jewish Map of the United States, 2011

Jewish Map of the United States, 2011 by Dr. Joshua Comenetz contains two maps of the Jewish Population of the United States as an end-product of a 2012 Data Bank Berman Summer Research Fellowship. The first map visually represents estimates derived by Dr. Comenetz of the number of Jewish persons in the U.S. by county, based upon multiple sources of data, including Jewish community studies available at the Data Bank, the Data Bank's Current Jewish Population Report series, and American Community Survey data analyzed by Dr. Comenetz. The second map visually presents the same data, but in terms of Jewish persons as a percentage of all people living in each U.S. county.

FAQs on American Jews

The FAQ data series on American Jews is based upon comparative data initially compiled by Dr. Ira M. Sheskin for his Jewish community study reports and originally published by the Data Bank in 2001 as How Communities Differ: Variations in the Findings of Local Community Studies. Drs. Dashefsky, Sheskin and Miller have revised and updated these tables for this online series, which is updated as new Jewish community studies are completed.

The FAQs include Jewish population estimates for over 50 Jewish communities that have conducted local studies which used RDD (random digit dialing) telephone interviewing as part of the population estimation process; the FAQ estimates apply to the year of the Study. In general, FAQ-report studies are available at the Berman Institute-North American Jewish Data Bank.

The Data Bank Current Jewish Population Report # 2010-1: "Jewish Population in the United States, 2010," includes Jewish population estimates for over 1000 communities (and sub-areas within larger geographic areas). Some of these estimates are based on RDD-based studies, but many estimates derive from non-RDD-based studies, including informant estimates, especially in smaller Jewish communities. This Current Jewish Population Report Series series continues the tradition of similar articles which had previously been published as part of the American Jewish Year book.

#1 - U.S. Jewish Population Estimates (PDF) includes number of Jewish households, number of all people living in these households (including non-Jews), and Jews — for approximately 50 American Jewish communities. These estimates were based upon data from Jewish community surveys which utilized random digit dialing (RDD) as part of the survey design and population estimation process. (Last Updated: January, 2013)

#2 - Intermarriage Data (PDF) was created in response to the many inquiries on intermarriage that the Data Bank receives each year. Typical questions relate to intermarriage rates, percentages of Jews who are married to non-Jews, percentage of children with intermarried parents being raised as Jews and percentage of intermarried couples who are members of a synagogue. Almost every national and local community Jewish study archived at the Data Bank includes data on these topics. FAQ Tables 2, 2a, 2b and 2c in the Data Bank’s FAQ series respond to these frequently asked questions by summarizing data from approximately 50 American Jewish communities which have included RDD (random digit dialing) as part of the sampling design. (Last Updated: January, 2013)

FAQ Supplement (PDF): Please also see the FAQ supplement which provides a list of community studies that were used to compile the FAQ, the year the study was completed, and the associated Principal Investigator(s).

American Jewish Year Book

For older historical estimates on the Jewish population, please see the American Jewish Year Book page.