Physical map of the State of Israel

Figures obtained by the Hebrew-language newspaper Maariv indicate that the Jewish population of Israel will reach the symbolic number of 6 million by the end of November. According to Maariv there are currently 5.9965 million Jews in Israel.

Reports earlier in the year had established the number would be reached by the end of the year, but it appears the number will be reached even earlier.

Of all the residents of Israel – 75.5 percent are Jews (six million), 20.5 percent are Muslim (1.65 million), and 4.2 percent are Christians and other religions.

According to statistics reported by Israel National News in September,  the Jewish population’s rate of growth in 2011 was 1.8%, similar to the rate in the previous 8 years. This is similar to the growth rate seen in the 80s, though it was higher in the 90s, because of  large scale immigration from the former Soviet Union.

The growth rate of the Arab population was 2.4% in 2011, down from 3.4% in the years 1996-2000.

Also reported by Israel National News were numbers released around Rosh Hashanah by Hebrew University demographics expert Professor Sergio Della Pergola. According to Professor Della Pergola there are 13.75 million Jews in the world today, an increase of 88,300 from last Rosh Hashanah.

Jews in Israel make up 43% of the total Jewish world population. 39% of all Jews worldwide live in the United States (5.46 million), and 9.5% (1.43 million) reside in Europe.