How Many Orthodox Jews Are There?

People are often surprised by the numbers. Orthodox Jews are visible — our distinctive dress, our concentrated neighborhoods, our large families — but we are actually a relatively small percentage of the total Jewish population. What is less obvious from the statistics is the trajectory: we are the fastest-growing Jewish community in the world, and the demographics are shifting rapidly.

The Numbers

Total Jewish population worldwide: approximately 15.7 million.

Orthodox Jews make up roughly 12-15% of that total, depending on how you define the boundaries. That gives us approximately 2 million Orthodox Jews globally.

United States: About 800,000 Orthodox Jews, concentrated in the New York metropolitan area (particularly Brooklyn, the Five Towns, Monsey, and Lakewood, New Jersey), with significant communities in Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, and other cities.

Israel: About 2 million, including approximately 1.4 million Charedi (ultra-Orthodox, ~14% of Israel's population per the Israel Democracy Institute's 2024 report) and roughly 700,000 Dati Leumi (national religious/Modern Orthodox). Israel's Orthodox population is growing rapidly.

Europe: Smaller communities in London (Golders Green, Stamford Hill), Manchester, Antwerp, Paris, and Zurich.

Canada, Australia, South America: Significant communities in Toronto, Montreal, Melbourne, Buenos Aires, and Sao Paulo.

Growth Trends

Here is the number that gets demographers' attention: Hasidic and Yeshivish families often have 6-10 children, with families of 10 or more not uncommon in Hasidic communities; Modern Orthodox families typically have 3-5 children. Compare this to the American Jewish average across denominations, closer to 1.4-2.0 children per family.

The math is straightforward. When the Pew Research Center surveyed American Jews in 2020, they found that Orthodox Jews made up about 10% of American Jewry but accounted for a much larger share of Jewish children. Projections suggest that by 2050, Orthodox Jews could represent a quarter or more of American Jewry.

The retention rate also matters. While some young people leave the Orthodox community (the "OTD" — off the derech — phenomenon), the numbers who stay are high. Studies suggest that roughly 80% of people raised Orthodox remain Orthodox in adulthood. Among Hasidic communities, the retention rate is even higher.

Why the Growth Matters

The growth of the Orthodox community is reshaping the landscape of American and world Judaism. Orthodox communities are building new schools, synagogues, and mikvaot at a rapid pace. Towns like Lakewood, New Jersey — home to Beth Medrash Govoha, the largest yeshiva in North America — have grown from a small community to a city of over 135,000, largely driven by Orthodox growth.

This growth also brings challenges: housing, schools, local politics, and the need for economic infrastructure to support large families. These are real issues that communities are actively working to address.

A Small Community with an Outsized Presence

Orthodox Jews may be small in number compared to the global Jewish population, but the community's impact is enormous — in Torah scholarship, in Jewish education, in charitable giving, and in the sheer vibrancy of Jewish life. Walk through any Orthodox neighborhood on a Friday afternoon and you will feel it: the rush of preparation, the smell of challah baking, the energy of a community that is very much alive and growing.

We are small. But we are not going anywhere. If anything, we are just getting started.

Where Do They Live?

The geographic distribution is highly concentrated:

United States (~800,000-1,000,000): The largest concentration is in the New York metropolitan area — Brooklyn (Boro Park, Williamsburg, Crown Heights, Flatbush), Lakewood NJ, Monsey NY, the Five Towns, and Teaneck NJ. Other significant communities include Baltimore, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Detroit, and Cleveland.

Israel (~1,200,000+): Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, and dozens of other cities. The Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) population in Israel is growing rapidly and is a major factor in Israeli politics and demographics.

United Kingdom (~75,000): Centered in Stamford Hill (London), Manchester, and Gateshead.

Other countries: Canada (Toronto, Montreal), France (Paris), Belgium (Antwerp), Australia (Melbourne), and South Africa (Johannesburg) all have significant Orthodox communities.

The Fastest-Growing Jewish Group

The numbers tell a clear story. While Conservative and Reform Judaism are declining in membership, Orthodox Judaism is growing steadily. The Orthodox share of American Jewry has increased from 6% in 2000 to approximately 10% in 2020 — and among Jews under 18, the proportion is much higher.

At current growth rates, demographers project that Orthodox Jews will constitute the majority of engaged American Jews by the latter half of this century. This is not speculation — it is arithmetic. Large families combined with high retention rates produce exponential growth.

Common Questions

What percentage of Jews worldwide are Orthodox? Approximately 12-15% of the global Jewish population identifies as Orthodox, but among those who actively practice Judaism, the proportion is much higher — and growing.

Are all Hasidic Jews counted as Orthodox? Yes — Hasidic Jews are a subset of Orthodox Judaism. All population counts of Orthodox Jews include Hasidic, Yeshivish, and Modern Orthodox communities.

Is the Orthodox community growing or shrinking? Growing — significantly. The Orthodox population roughly doubles every 20-25 years due to high birth rates and strong retention. This is the opposite trend from most Western religious communities.

Why do Orthodox Jews have so many children? Multiple reasons: religious value placed on children, the commandment to "be fruitful and multiply," community support systems that make large families viable, and a cultural framework that sees children as the highest blessing. Read more about why Orthodox families are large.