World’s Jewish Population Now Stands at 15.8 Million, Report

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The Jewish Agency announced in its annual report on Wednesday, the eve of Rosh Hashanah 2024, that the world’s Jewish population is now 15.8 million, the Times of Israel (TOI) reports.

The agency noted that its statistics are based on self-identification as Jewish and/or on having at least one Jewish parent and not belonging to another religion.

According to this year’s Jewish Agency report, 7.3 million Jews live in Israel, compared to 7.2 million last year, TOI said. America has the second largest Jewish population, currently standing at 6.3 million.

The next largest Jewish populations are in France and Canada, with 438,500 and 400,000 respectively, the agency reported. These countries are followed by United Kingdom (313,000), Argentina (170,000), Germany (125,000), Russia (123,000), Australia (117,000), Brazil (90,300), South Africa (49,500), Hungary (45,000), Mexico (41,000), and the Netherlands (35,000).

“The existential relationship between the Jewish communities around the world and the State of Israel has strengthened in the past year [since the October 7 attack by Hamas]. We are witnessing unprecedented support that provides us the strength and hope to carry on,” Jewish Agency chairman Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog noted in a statement.

“The difficult war that was imposed on us, alongside the struggle of Jews around the world against rising antisemitism, emphasizes the shared destiny and the mission of The Jewish Agency — to be a living bridge between global Jewry and the State of Israel, to be the home for all Jews from around the world — from all denominations and sectors,” Almog added.

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