Jerusalem, Israel – Apr. 17, 2023:
On the Occasion of Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day, 2023
For the first time, data from the CBS's Social Survey are included in this release.
Jews in Israel and Throughout the World[1]
- At the end of 2022, the world Jewish population was 15.3 million, of them 7.0 million live in Israel (46% of the world Jewish population).
- In 1939, on the eve of World War II, the world Jewish population was 16.6 million, of whom 449,000 (3%) lived in Israel.
- In 1948, on the eve of the establishment of the State of Israel, the world Jewish population was 11.5 million, of whom 650,000 (6%) lived in Israel.
Holocaust Survivors
- On the eve of Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day 2023, there are 147,199 Holocaust survivors and victims of anti-Semitic acts perpetrated during the Holocaust living in Israel.
Based on data for the end of 2022
- Women constitute 61% of the Holocaust survivors, and men constitute 39%.
- Of the survivors, about 4.5% immigrated to Israel before the establishment of the state, during 1933â1947. About one-third (31.7%) of the survivors immigrated to Israel in the great wave of immigration (1948â1951) after the establishment of the state. Another 29.7% immigrated in the years 1952â1989, and about one-third (34.1%) immigrated since the 1990s, during the last wave of immigration from the USSR (former).
Data from the Social Survey 2021
- 87% of the survivors are 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with their lives, similar to 88% of all Jews and Others aged 76 and over.
- 17.3% of the survivors frequently felt lonely, compared with 12.6% of all Jews and Others aged 76 and over.
Jews in Israel and throughout the world
- At the end of 2022, the world Jewish population was 15.3 million.
- In 1939, on the eve of World War II, the world Jewish population was 16.6 million, of whom 449,000 (3%) lived in Israel.
- In 1948, on the eve of the establishment of the State of Israel, the world Jewish population was 11.5 million, of whom 650,000 (6%) lived in Israel.
- 7.0 million Jews live in Israel
- 6.0 million Jews live in the United States
- 442,000 live in France
- 394,000 live in Canada
- 292,000 live in the United Kingdom
- 173,000 live in Argentina
- 145,000 live in Russia
- 118,000 live in Germany
- 118,000 live in Australia
Of the world Jewish population of 15.3 million:
Jews in Israel by Continent of Origin[2]
The number of Jews living in Israel: 7.0 million (46% of the world Jewish population)
Of them: 5.6 million were born in Israel
1.4 million were born abroad
Of them: 1.0 million were born in Europe or in America
280,000 were born in Africa
149,100 were born in Asia
Holocaust Survivors
On the eve of Holocaust Day 2023, there are 147,199 Holocaust survivors and victims of anti-Semitic acts perpetrated during the Holocaust living in Israel.
The data published in this release are taken from a file obtained from the Holocaust Survivorsâ Rights Authority. The Holocaust Survivorsâ Rights Authority serves as an arm of the State of Israel to compensate Holocaust survivors who survived in concentration camps, ghettos, and hiding places, as well as World War II disabled, persons disabled as a result of Nazi persecution, and refugees. In addition, the Holocaust Survivorsâ Rights Authority has recognized the status of Iraqi residents who underwent the Farhud[3] events of June 1941, as well as that of Moroccan and Algerian residents who experienced restrictions on employment and residence during the Vichy regime and were exposed to the Nazi regime.
Selected Demographic Data (at the End of 2022)
Age and Sex
Women constitute 61% of the Holocaust survivors, and men constitute 39%.
About 38% of the survivors were born during the Second World War, between 1939 and 1945; they were aged 77â83 at the end of 2022. Another 40% of the survivors were aged 84â89, and the rest were over 90 (about 22%).
Marital Status
About 50% of the survivors were widowed, 37.7% were married, 10.3% were divorced and about 2% were never-married.
Diagram 1 – Holocaust Survivors by Sex and Age, 2022[4]
Country of Birth and Immigration Period
Persons born in Europe constitute 63% of the Holocaust survivors living in Israel (105,900). The largest group (36.7%) consists of persons born in the USSR (former), another 11.3% were born in Romania, and 5.2% were born in Poland.
Persons born in Morocco constitute 15.7% of the Holocaust survivors, about 2.1% are persons born in Algeria who experienced various restrictions during the Vichy regime, and 10.4% are persons born in Iraq who underwent the Farhud pogrom. Persons born in Tunisia and Libya constitute the remaining 6.5%.
Table A – Holocaust Survivors by Country of Birth, 2022
Country of birth | Percentages |
Grand total | 100.0 |
European countries – total | 63.1 |
USSR (former) | 36.7 |
Romania | 11.3 |
Poland | 5.2 |
Bulgaria | 2.7 |
Germany and Austria | 1.7 |
Hungary | 1.4 |
France | 1.1 |
Other European countries | 3.0 |
Asian and African countries – total | 35.1 |
Morocco | 15.7 |
Iraq | 10.4 |
Tunisia | 3.9 |
Libya | 2.6 |
Algeria | 2.1 |
Other Asian and African countries | 0.4 |
Other countries | 1.8 |
Of the survivors, about 4.5% immigrated to Israel before the establishment of the state, during 1933â1947. About one-third (31.7%) of the survivors immigrated to Israel in the great wave of immigration (1948â1951) after the establishment of the state. Another 29.7% immigrated in the years 1952â1989, and about one-third (34.1%) immigrated since the 1990s, during the last wave of immigration from the USSR (former).
About 61.6% of Holocaust survivors from Germany and Austria immigrated to Israel before the establishment of the state. Most of the survivors from Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Iraq, and Libya immigrated to Israel in the first wave of immigration (1948â1951). Most of the survivors born in Morocco and Tunisia immigrated in the 1950s and 1960s, whereas most survivors of the USSR (former) immigrated since 1990.
Table B – Holocaust Survivors by Country of Birth and Immigration Period, Percentages
Country of birth |
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