Top 10 Countries with Largest Jewish Populations
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Jewish communities are found all over the world, but their distribution is far from even. The map above highlights the ten countries with the largest Jewish populations, revealing some surprising insights. Did you know that the United States actually has more Jewish residents than Israel? While Israel is the only country with a Jewish majority, the global Jewish population of approximately 15.7 million is spread across multiple continents.
Looking at the data, we see an interesting concentration pattern. The United States leads with 7.46 million Jewish residents, followed closely by Israel with 7.43 million.
Beyond these leading countries, significant Jewish populations exist in Argentina, Russia, Germany, Australia, and Brazil. Many nations, including South Africa, Mexico, and Ukraine, also have smaller but historically important Jewish communities.
| Country | Jewish Population 2023 |
|---|---|
| United States | 7,460,600 |
| Israel | 7,427,000 |
| France | 440,000 |
| Canada | 398,000 |
| United Kingdom | 312,000 |
| Argentina | 171,000 |
| Russia | 132,000 |
| Germany | 125,000 |
| Australia | 117,000 |
| Brazil | 90,500 |
| South Africa | 50,000 |
| Hungary | 46,000 |
| Mexico | 40,000 |
| Ukraine | 33,000 |
| Netherlands | 29,700 |
| Belgium | 29,000 |
| Italy | 26,900 |
| Switzerland | 20,500 |
| Uruguay | 16,200 |
| Chile | 15,700 |
| Sweden | 14,900 |
| Spain | 13,000 |
| Austria | 10,300 |
| Panama | 10,000 |
| Poland | 9,500 |
| Iran | 9,100 |
| Romania | 8,700 |
| New Zealand | 7,500 |
| Azerbaijan | 6,800 |
| Denmark | 6,400 |
| Belarus | 6,000 |
| India | 4,500 |
| Venezuela | 4,500 |
| Latvia | 4,200 |
| Greece | 4,000 |
| Czech Republic | 3,900 |
| Portugal | 3,800 |
| China | 3,500 |
| Ireland | 2,700 |
| Uzbekistan | 2,600 |
| Slovakia | 2,600 |
| Costa Rica | 2,600 |
| Kazakhstan | 2,300 |
| Lithuania | 2,200 |
| Morocco | 2,100 |
| Colombia | 2,000 |
| Bulgaria | 2,000 |
| Peru | 1,900 |
| Estonia | 1,900 |
| Croatia | 1,700 |
| Puerto Rico | 1,500 |
| Moldova | 1,500 |
| Serbia | 1,400 |
| Finland | 1,300 |
| Norway | 1,300 |
| Georgia | 1,200 |
| Paraguay | 1,100 |
| Japan | 1,000 |
| Tunisia | 1,000 |
| Guatemala | 900 |
| Singapore | 900 |
| Gibraltar | 800 |
| Luxembourg | 700 |
| Monaco | 700 |
| Ecuador | 600 |
| Taiwan | 500 |
| Bolivia | 500 |
| United Arab Emirates | 500 |
| Cuba | 500 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 500 |
| Jamaica | 500 |
| Cyprus | 500 |
| United States Virgin Islands | 400 |
| Thailand | 300 |
| Kenya | 300 |
| Sri Lanka | 300 |
| Kyrgyzstan | 300 |
| Philippines | 200 |
| South Korea | 200 |
| Zimbabwe | 200 |
| Turkmenistan | 200 |
| Suriname | 200 |
| Indonesia | 100 |
| Nigeria | 100 |
| Ethiopia | 100 |
| Egypt | 100 |
| DR Congo | 100 |
| Madagascar | 100 |
| Syria | 100 |
| Dominican Republic | 100 |
| El Salvador | 100 |
| Namibia | 100 |
| Armenia | 100 |
| Botswana | 100 |
| Slovenia | 100 |
| North Macedonia | 100 |
| Malta | 100 |
| Barbados | 100 |
| Guam | 100 |
| Bermuda | 100 |
Why Are Jewish Populations Spread This Way?
The settlement patterns of Jewish people around the world have been shaped by thousands of years of history. Several major historical events influenced where Jewish communities established themselves:
- Diaspora (Exile and Migration): Jewish dispersion began with the Babylonian Exile (6th century BCE) and continued after the Roman destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE. Many Jewish communities settled in Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
- Persecution and Expulsions: Over the centuries, Jewish populations faced forced migrations, such as the expulsion from Spain in 1492. Many fled to the Ottoman Empire, the Netherlands, and later, the Americas.
- Economic Opportunities: During the 19th and early 20th centuries, large waves of Jewish immigration to the United States occurred, particularly from Eastern Europe, due to economic hardship and anti-Semitic pogroms.
- Holocaust and Post-War Migration: The Holocaust devastated European Jewry, with many survivors relocating to Israel, the U.S., and other countries after World War II.
- Soviet Jewish Emigration: During the late 20th century, large numbers of Jews left the Soviet Union for Israel and the United States due to religious repression).
Were you surprised by any of the numbers? Do you have insights or personal experiences related to Jewish communities around the world? Leave a comment below—we’d love to hear from you!
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