A wide-ranging poll by the Geocartographia organization of the hareidi-religious Jewish public says that the community will consist of over one million members inside of a dozen years. By 2022, the poll says, the hareidi community in all of its forms – Hassidic, “Lithuanian,” and Sephardic – will number 1,018,535 individuals.
By 2022, the poll says, the Hareidi community in all of its forms – Hassidic, “Lithuanian,” and Sephardic – will number 1,018,535 individuals.
Currently, population experts estimate that the community consists of some 650,000 members. The near-doubling of the community by 2022 will be due to natural growth, as the average hareidi family has between 6 and 8 children. Experts believe there are currently 1.3 million hareidim in the world today.
The poll revealed some other interesting statistics about the community: For example, on average, hareidi families spend some NIS 3 billion ($725 million) on food products each year, out of a total of NIS 45.3 billion spent by all Israelis. Forty percent of hareidi parents go out to eat at least once a week, the poll said, as compared to 53% of the general population. Only 19% of hareidi families order food in from restaurants and fast food establishments; however, 29% of hareidim entertain guests at home on a regular basis, compared to 13% of all Israelis.
The poll also said that 66% of hareidi families do not own cars – and those that do prefer to buy used cars instead of new. Thirty nine percent own at least one cellphone, and 31.7% have more than one subscription. In addition, the poll said, 85% of hareidim said they were in good health, compared to 67% of the general population.