Director's Letter
October 3, 2019
Dear Friends,
We are pleased to release our 2019 estimate of the US Jewish population. The report, prepared by the American Jewish Population Project team, provides overall population estimates and information about the demographic characteristics of US Jews, including their political affiliation. We are also releasing our updated interactive map showing Jewish population data at the state, metropolitan area, and county level, and providing new infographics summarizing key findings and comparisons to other data sources.
Applying criteria for Jewish identity used by most Jewish community studies and the Pew Research Center, our 2019 estimate indicates that there are 7.5 million Jewish adults and children in the United States. This finding is consistent with previous estimates and indicates that overall 2.4% of US Jewish adults identify as Jewish. Most identify as Jewish by religion, but the number also includes some who are the offspring of Jewish parents and identify as Jewish in some other way (primarily as cultural/secular Jews). This estimate is based on a synthesis of data from hundreds of independent survey samples. You can find out more about our methodology on the AJPP website.
We hope that our newly detailed and accessible demographic analyses will be helpful to scholars, Jewish communal policy analysts, and others interested in learning about the American Jewish community. Estimating the size of the US Jewish community is only one aspect of the work we do, but it provides the larger context for our ongoing efforts to better understand US Jewish identity.
Wishing you and your families a sweet and healthy New Year.
G’mar tov, 
Leonard Saxe, PhD
Klutznick Professor of Contemporary Jewish Studies and Social Policy
Director, Cohen Center for Modern Jewish Studies and Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis University