There are 14.8 million Jewish people worldwide according to the Jewish Agency.

The annual statistics revealed for Rosh Hashanah showed a 100,000 increase with 8.1 million Jews living outside Israel.

The United States boasts the largest population in the Diaspora with 5.7 million Jews.

After Israel and the US, France leads the way with 450,000 Jews followed by Canada (392,000), United Kingdom (292,000), Argentina (180,000), Russia (165,000), Germany (118,000) and Australia (118,000).

The Agency illustrated 26,000 Jews reside in Arab and Muslim states headed by Turkey on 15,000, Iran (8,500), Morocco (2,000) and Tunisia (2,000).

Statistics are based on self-identification as Jewish and not as another religion.

The Central Bureau of Statistics annual report listed Israel’s population at just over 9 million.

Israeli society consists of 74.2% Jews (6,744,000), 21% Arabs (1,907,000) and 4% classed as others.

Up 2.1% on 2018, analysts predict it will hit 10 million by 2024 and 20 million by 2065.

Forty-three percent of Jews in Israel identified as non-religious or secular, 22.1% traditional or slightly religious. In terms of those identifying as religious some 12.8% were traditional, 11.3% religious and 10.1% ultra-Orthodox.

Just under 90% of Israelis were satisfied with life. But 36.1% were unhappy with the economic situation as 29.9% struggled to pay bills.

Life expectancy for men in Israel is 80.9 years and 84.9 for woman

Statistics illustrated one in seven Israelis had a severe disability.

Israel is the 99th most populated country in the world, not including 250,000 illegal foreign workers and African migrants living in Israel.

There were 806,000 residents when Israel was established, the population reached one million in 1949 and two million nine years later.

Regarding eligibility of citizenship under Israel’s Law of Return, which requires one Jewish grandparent, the Jewish Agency noted the global figure would shoot up to 23.6 million Jews.

By Natalie Ash