5,367,000 Jews Reported Living in U.s.; 80% Are American Born

The proportion of American-born Jews has risen from 33 percent in 1900 to 80 percent in 1960, according to data in the 1960 edition of the American Jewish Year Book published today. The number of American Jews has grown in the six decades from 1,000,000 to approximately 5, 367,000.

The total world Jewish population was estimated at 12,500,000. The majority–6,300,000–live in North, Central and South America and 3, 500,000 in Europe. There are about 2,000,000 Jews in Asia, 550,000 in Africa and about 68,000 in Australia and New Zealand, according to the Year Book, a reference book issued Jointly by the American Jewish Committee and the Jewish Publication Society.

The population of Israel was listed as 1,837,000 Jews and 225,000 non-Jews. About 42 percent of Israel’s Jewish population is in the zero to 20-year age group and 24 percent in the over-45 year group.

Enrollment in Jewish Sunday and weekday Jewish schools has grown six times as fast as the American Jewish population increase during the past decade, the Year Book reported. Enrollment grew from 239,000 children to the present 554,000 students, an increase of 131 percent. The American Jewish population during the same period increased by 15 to 20 percent.

In the six decades since 1900, American Jewish organizational life has increased greatly, growing from 20 national Jewish groups to more than 200 at present, reflecting cultural, educational, religious, community relations, overseas aid, social welfare, fraternal and mutual benefit and Zionist and pro-Israel interests.

The Year Book reported that there were only nine countries with a Jewish population in excess of 200,000. These were the United States, the Soviet Union, Israel, Great Britain, Argentina, France, Canada, Rumania and Morocco. Between two and three million of Europe’s 3, 500,000 Jews are estimated to live in Russia.