Demographics of Jerusalem

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Jerusalem

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Founded around 3000 BCE, the Old City of Jerusalem is divided into Muslim, Christian, Jewish, and Armenian quarters. At the time of Jesus, the city had an estimated population of 80,000 (Time Magazine). In 2003, the population of the Old City was comprised of 31,405 Arabs and 3,965 "Jews and others" (Choshen 12). That same year the total population of Jerusalem was 693,217 including 464,527 "Jews and others" and 228,690 Arabs (Choshen 1).

The table below provides data on demographic change over time in Jerusalem. Readers should be aware that the boundaries of Jerusalem have changed many times over the years and that Jerusalem may also refer to a district or even a sub-district under Ottoman, British, or Israeli administration, see e.g. Jerusalem District. Thus, year-to-year comparisons may not be valid due to the varying geographic areas covered by the population censuses.

Population of Jerusalem throughout history
Year Jews Muslims Christians Total Source
1471 250* ? ? ? Baron
1488 76* ? ? ? Baron
1525 199* 616* 119* ? Baron
1553 1,958** 11,750 358** ? Masters, 2004
1844 7,120 5,000 3,390 15,510 Harrel, 1974
1876 12,000 7,560 5,470 25,030 Harrel, 1974
1896 28,110 8,560 8,750 45,420 Harrel, 1974
1922 33,971 13,413 14,669 62,578 Harrel, 1974
1931 51,200 19,900 19,300 90,053 Harrel, 1974
1944 97,000 30,600 29,400 157,000 ?
1947 100,000 ? ? 205,000 United Nations (1983) includes ,
Bethlehem and surrounding Arab villages
1948 100,000 40,000 25,000 165,000 Harrel, 1974
1967 195,700 54,963 12,646 263,307 Harrel, 1974
1980 292,300 ? ? 407,100 Jerusalem Municipality
1985 327,700 ? ? 457,700 Jerusalem Municipality
1987 340,000 121,000 14,000 475,000 Jerusalem Municipality
1990 378,200 131,800 14,400 524,400 Jerusalem Municipality
1995 417,100 182,700 14,100 617,000 Jerusalem Municipality
1996 421,200 ? ? 602,100 Jerusalem Municipality
2000 448,800 ? ? 657,500 Jerusalem Municipality
2004 464,500 ? ? 693,200 Jerusalem Municipality
2005 469,300 ? ? 706,400 Jerusalem Municipality
* Indicates families. ** Indicates adult males.

Population of Jerusalem throughout history
Year	Jews	Muslims	Christians	Total	Source
1471	250*	?	?	?	Baron
1488	76*	?	?	?	Baron
1525	199*	616*	119*	?	Baron
1553	1,958**	11,750	358**	?	Masters, 2004
1844	7,120	5,000	3,390	15,510	Harrel, 1974
1876	12,000	7,560	5,470	25,030	Harrel, 1974
1896	28,110	8,560	8,750	45,420	Harrel, 1974
1922	33,971	13,413	14,669	62,578	Harrel, 1974
1931	51,200	19,900	19,300	90,053	Harrel, 1974
1944	97,000	30,600	29,400	157,000	?
1947	100,000	?	?	205,000	United Nations (1983) includes , Bethlehem and surrounding Arab villages
1948	100,000	40,000	25,000	165,000	Harrel, 1974
1967	195,700	54,963	12,646	263,307	Harrel, 1974
1980	292,300	?	?	407,100	Jerusalem Municipality
1985	327,700	?	?	457,700	Jerusalem Municipality
1987	340,000	121,000	14,000	475,000	Jerusalem Municipality
1990	378,200	131,800	14,400	524,400	Jerusalem Municipality
1995	417,100	182,700	14,100	617,000	Jerusalem Municipality
1996	421,200	?	?	602,100	Jerusalem Municipality
2000	448,800	?	?	657,500	Jerusalem Municipality
2004	464,500	?	?	693,200	Jerusalem Municipality
2005	469,300	?	?	706,400	Jerusalem Municipality

As of May 24, 2006, Jerusalem's population is 724,000 (about 10% of the total population of Israel), of which 65.0% were Jews (approx. 40% of whom live in East Jerusalem), 32.0% Muslim (almost all of whom live in East Jerusalem) and 2% Christian. 35% of the city's population were children under age of 15. In 2005, the city had 18,600 newborns. (Source: [Israel Central Bureau of Statistics])

It should be noted that these official Israeli statistics refer to the expanded Israel municipality of Jerusalem. This includes not only the area of the pre-1967 Israeli and Jordanian municipalities, but also outlying Palestinian villages and neighbourhoods east of the city, which were not part of Jordanian East Jerusalem prior to 1967. A reasonable assumption is that all or part of these may not remain part of Jerusalem when its final status is established, but rather be returned to the West Bank as part of the Palestinian state.

Sources

Salo Baron, A Social and Religious History of the Jews, Columbia University Press, 1983.
Manashe Harrel, "The Jewish Presence in Jerusalem through the Ages" in Sinai and Oestericcher, eds., Jerusalem, John Day, 1974. The Harrel numbers are also used in Mitchell Geoffrey Bard, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict, Alpha, 2002.
[Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics information page]
[Jerusalem: Jewish, Muslim, and Christian Population (1910-2000)] at israelipalestinianprocon.org
Bruce Masters, Christians And Jews In The Ottoman Arab World Cambridge University Press, 2004.
[Population of Jerusalem until 1945] (Table 10) at mideastweb.org

External links

[Focus on Jerusalem] Biblical Prophecy Ministry (Christian site)

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