Introduction
In 2019, there were an estimated 14.6 million Jews living around the world. This population is widely dispersed across many countries, with the majority concentrated in just a few key centers. In this article, we’ll explore where most Jews live and how changes in geopolitics have impacted their migration patterns.
Exploring the Geography of Jewish Life
The top 10 countries with the largest Jewish populations are Israel, the United States, France, Canada, the United Kingdom, Russia, Argentina, Germany, Australia, and Brazil. Together, these countries account for approximately 80% of the world’s Jewish population.
Israel has by far the largest Jewish population, with 6.6 million people or 43% of the world’s total. The United States comes in second with 5.7 million Jews, followed by France with 467,000 and Canada with 391,000. The UK, Russia, Argentina, Germany, Australia, and Brazil each have between 200,000 and 300,000 Jews.
When it comes to cities, the most popular ones for Jews to live in are Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Toronto, London, Buenos Aires, Melbourne, and Sao Paulo. Together, they account for nearly half of the world’s Jewish population.
How Changes in Geopolitics Have Impacted Jewish Migration Patterns
One of the most dramatic changes in Jewish geography over the past century has been the emergence of Israel as a major center of Jewish life. Prior to 1948, when the state of Israel was established, the vast majority of Jews lived outside of the region. However, since then, millions of Jews have migrated to Israel, making it the single largest center of Jewish life in the world today.
At the same time, the United States has become an increasingly important center of Jewish life. Since the early 20th century, millions of Jews have migrated to the US, making it home to the world’s second-largest Jewish population. In recent decades, the US has also become an increasingly popular destination for Jews from other countries, particularly those fleeing persecution in places like Russia and Eastern Europe.
Conclusion
In conclusion, while Jews are spread out across many countries, the majority of them live in just a few key centers. Israel has the largest Jewish population, followed by the United States, France, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, the most popular cities for Jews to live in are Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, New York, Los Angeles, Paris, Toronto, London, Buenos Aires, Melbourne, and Sao Paulo. Finally, changes in geopolitics have had a major impact on Jewish migration patterns, with Israel emerging as a major center of Jewish life and the US becoming increasingly popular in recent decades.