Jewish population in the United States

The Jewish population in the United States is one of the largest in the world, second only to Israel, with estimates varying based on definitions and methodologies. According to multiple sources, the total number of Jews in the U.S. ranges between 5.7 million and 7.6 million as of recent data from 2020 to 2025.

• Population Estimates: The Pew Research Center's 2020 survey estimates a total of 7.5 million Jews of all ages, including 5.8 million adults (2.4% of U.S. adults) and 1.8 million children being raised Jewish in some way. This figure comprises 4.2 million adults identifying as Jewish by religion and 1.5 million Jewish adults with no religious affiliation13. Hebrew University demographer Sergio DellaPergola estimates a “core” Jewish population of slightly over 6 million, including 4.8 million adults and 1.2 million children, focusing on those with two Jewish parents or who identify as Jewish without another monotheistic religion15. The American Jewish Population Project (AJPP) at Brandeis University, using Bayesian analysis of multiple surveys, estimates 7.6 million Jews, with 6.0 million adults and 1.6 million children1. Other sources, such as World Population Review and Welcome Israel, cite figures closer to 5.7 million to 6.2 million for the core population27.

• Broader Definitions: Beyond the core population, DellaPergola and others note an “enlarged” Jewish population of up to 11 million, which includes those with at least one Jewish grandparent or eligibility under Israel’s Law of Return, representing about 4.5% of the U.S. population35. Additionally, a category of 8.6 million includes those with at least one Jewish parent who consider themselves partly Jewish5.

• Geographic Distribution: The Jewish population is heavily concentrated in certain states. New York has the largest Jewish community, with estimates ranging from 1.67 million to 1.78 million, accounting for 8.5% to 9.1% of the state’s population468. California follows with 1.23 million to 1.26 million (3.2% of the state population), and Florida with 657,000 to 753,000 (3.3%)468. Other states with significant Jewish populations include New Jersey (581,000 to 626,000, 6.3%), Pennsylvania (347,000 to 434,000, 2.7%), Illinois (325,000 to 334,000, 2.7%), Massachusetts (301,000 to 318,000, 4.6%), Maryland (238,000 to 250,000, 4.1%), Texas (175,000 to 220,000, 0.7%), and Ohio (151,000 to 177,000, 1.5%)468. Washington, D.C., also has a high proportion, with 57,300 Jews (8.4% of its population)48.

• Demographic Trends: The Jewish population in the U.S. appears to be stable or slightly growing, keeping pace with national population growth. Pew Research notes an increase from 5.3 million adults (2.2%) in 2013 to 5.8 million (2.4%) in 20201. Growth is attributed to natural increase and immigration, though challenges like intermarriage and assimilation affect long-term trends. About 95% of Jewish Americans are Ashkenazi, descended from Eastern and Central European Jews, with most being U.S.-born46.

Overall, the U.S. Jewish community remains a significant and influential part of the national fabric, with a strong presence in urban centers and a population size that varies based on definitional criteria but consistently ranks as the second-largest globally.

1. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2021/05/11/the-size-of-the-u-s-jewish-population/
2. https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/jewish-population-by-country
3. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Jews
4. https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/jewish-population-by-state
5. https://www.jpr.org.uk/countries/how-many-jews-in-united-states
6. https://www.datapandas.org/ranking/jewish-population-by-state
7. https://welcome-israel.com/blog/jewish-population-in-the-world
8. https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jewish-population-in-the-united-states-by-state
9. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2025/06/09/jewish-population-change/