<P> The world's core Jewish population was estimated at 14,511,000 in April 2018, up from 14.41 million in 2016 . Demographer Sergio DellaPergola proposes an "extended" Jewish population, including people identifying as partly Jewish and non-Jews with Jewish parents, numbering 17.3 million globally, and an "enlarged" Jewish population figure that also includes non-Jewish members of Jewish households totaling 20.2 million . Additionally, the total number of people who hold or are eligible for Israeli citizenship under the Law of Return--defined as anyone with at least one Jewish grandparent, and who does not profess any other religion--is estimated at around 23 million, of which 6.6 million were living in Israel as of 2015 . Figures for these expanded categories are less precise than for the core Jewish population . </P> <P> While dozens of countries host at least a small Jewish population, the community is concentrated in a handful: Israel and the United States account for 83% of the Jewish population, while a total of 98 countries host the other 17% . </P> <P> With just over 6.5 million Jews, Israel is the only Jewish majority and explicitly Jewish state . Jewish population figures for the United States are contested, ranging between 5.7 and 6.8 million . (The core global total of Jews jumps above 15 million if the highest American estimates are assumed). Other countries with a significant Jewish population are, like Israel and the United States, typically well - developed Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development members with Jews concentrated in major urban centers . </P> <P> In 1939, the core Jewish population reached its historical peak of 17 million . Due to the Holocaust, the number was reduced to 11 million in 1945 . The population grew to around 13 million by the 1970s, and then recorded near - zero growth until around 2005 due to low fertility rates and to assimilation . Since 2005, the world's Jewish population grew modestly at an annual rate of around 0.78% (to 2013). This increase primarily reflected the rapid growth of Haredi and some Orthodox sectors, who are becoming a growing proportion of Jews . </P>

Areas of the world where judaism is strong