The world's Jewish population stands at 14.7 million, an increase from 14.6 million in 2017, according to findings published by Israeli demographer and professor emeritus at Hebrew University of Jerusalem Sergio Della Pergola ahead of the Jewish New Year.
Israel's Jewish population increased to 6.6 million from the 6.5 million Jewish residents found to be living in the country last year. In addition, some 400,000 people living in Israel but not registered as Jews are eligible for citizenship under the Law of Return.
According to Pergola's data, 23.6 million people around the world are eligible to make aliyah under the Law of Return.
Some 8.1 million Jews live in the Diaspora, with 5.7 million of them living in the United States.
Other countries with large Jewish communities are France with a Jewish population of 430,000, followed by Canada with a Jewish population of 391,000 and Great Britain, with 290,000.
Argentina's Jewish population stands at 180,000; Russia's at 172,000; Germany's at 116,000; Australia's at 113,000 and Brazil's at 93,000. South Africa has 69,000 Jews, and Ukraine and Hungary have Jewish populations numbering 50,000 and 47,000, respectively.
There are 40,000 Jews living in Mexico, 30,000 in the Netherlands, 29,000 in Belgium, 28,000 in Italy, 19,000 in Switzerland, and 18,000 in Chile.
Some 27,000 Jews live in Arab and Muslim countries. There are 15,000 Jews in Turkey, some 8,500 in Iran, 2,000 in Morocco and around 1,000 in Tunisia.
Countries with a Jewish population of 500 or fewer include Bermuda, the Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Jamaica, the Virgin Islands, Bolivia, Suriname, Cyprus, Malta, Slovenia, Macedonia, Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, the Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Congo, Botswana, Kenya, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Yemen, Syria and Egypt.
In a Rosh Hashana greeting issued in several different languages, Jewish Agency Chairman Isaac Herzog invited Jews around the world to join him on a "joint journey to the shaping of Jewish identity."
He said the Jewish agency was working "to strengthen the connection and bond between Israel and the Jewish people worldwide, promoting Jewish identity and Zionist education, developing the next generation of Jewish leaders, helping vulnerable populations in Israel and as always, facilitate aliyah to Israel. Above all, we believe it is of utmost importance for every single Jew … to be part of the great Jewish story of our time [no matter where they are].
"In this new year, we will continue to do everything in our power to bring blessings to the lives of Jews all over the world, as people, as individuals, and I want to wish each and every one of you, and your families, a great year of happiness, of health of blessings. A new year, a new beginning. Happy holiday."
