Full Breakdown
Israel’s Population Reaches 10.3 Million Ahead of Rosh Hashanah
9/9/2026, 10:02:37 PM
Population Overview
The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) released its annual “Israel in Numbers” report, estimating the total population at 10.305 million. This reflects an increase of roughly 124,000 people (1.2 %) over the previous year. The CBS notes that the figure is provisional and based on the 2022 census with updated methodology for citizens living abroad and foreign residents.
Demographic Composition and Migration
According to the CBS, 7.828 million residents are Jews and members of other non-Arab communities (78.3 % of the total), while 2.173 million are Arabs (21.7 %). An additional ?300,000 foreign nationals reside in the country. Births numbered about 182,000 and deaths about 50,000 during the year, creating a natural increase of roughly 132,000.
Migration produced a net loss of ?8,000 people. The CBS records 24,000 new immigrants and 4,000 family-reunification arrivals, offset by 57,000 Israelis who emigrated and 21,000 who returned. In 2025, the Aliyah and Integration Ministry reported >22,500 new immigrants, down from 31,100 in 2024, while 69,500 Israelis left and 18,800 returned under the CBS migration methodology.
Fertility, Life Expectancy, and Households
The CBS highlights a total fertility rate of 2.88 children per woman, far above the OECD average of 1.41. Life expectancy stands at 81.4 years for men and 85.9 years for women, placing Israel among the highest in the OECD. More than 3 million private households exist, with an average size of 3.17 persons, compared with roughly 2.5 across OECD nations.
Labor Market and Social Indicators
The labor force comprises 4.577 million participants, with an unemployment rate of 2.9 %. Overall employment is 60.9 % (men 63.6 %, women 58.2 %). In 2024, 53,025 couples married and 16,499 divorced.
Broader Implications
These data underscore Israel’s continued demographic growth despite a negative migration balance, driven largely by a high fertility rate and sustained immigration. The population’s size—about 46 % of the world’s 15.9 million Jews as of January 1, 2026—reinforces the country’s central role in global Jewish demographics. Elevated life expectancy and low unemployment suggest a relatively robust socioeconomic environment, while the modest household size and steady marriage-divorce balance reflect evolving social patterns.
