Israeli population reaches 10 million at dawn of 2025

The population of the State of Israel has reached 10 million people at the start of 2025, according to a fresh report by the country’s Central Bureau of Statistics. By comparison, Israel’s population was approximately 600,000 when the country was established in 1948.

Approximately 7.7 million Jews live in Israel, constituting 76.9% of the total population. Close to 50% of Jews worldwide currently live in Israel. Approximately 2.1 million Arabs reside in the Jewish state, which makes up about 21% of the total population. In addition, around 210,000 people (2%) of the population identify as “other,” which includes non-Arab Christian minorities and individuals who are listed without a specific religion. This includes family members of Jewish immigrants from the former Soviet Republics who are not classified as Jews by Israel's religious authorities.

The report revealed that Israel's population grew by 1.1% in 2024, a rate higher than most developed OECD economies. However, this growth was still lower than in 2023, when the population increased by 1.6%.

The report attributed the lower population growth to the emigration of about 82,700 Israelis, an unusually high number compared to previous years. In comparison, 55,400 Israelis departed Israel during the previous year, while the annual average of emigrated Israelis over the past decade has been around 37,000.

The higher number of emigrated Israelis in 2024 can likely be attributed to various socioeconomic and security issues linked to the ongoing war against the Iranian-backed terror proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

The Israelis who left in 2024 mainly resided in the nation's wealthier central districts. However, 28% of the emigrants came from northern communities and 15% lived in southern communities that were extremely affected by the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023.

Despite the higher emigration rate, Israel’s natural population increase (number of births minus the number of deaths) reached 112,000 people. This was attributed to fertility rates that are significantly higher than in most Western nations. Some 181,000 babies were born in Israel in 2024. Of the newborns, 76% of the babies were born to Jewish mothers while 24% of the babies were born to Arab mothers.

The Jewish state also welcomed some 35,000 Jewish immigrants during 2024.

The head of the Jewish Agency, Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Doron Almog, praised the strong connection between Israel and Jewish communities around the world.

"The Jewish Agency works to strengthen and revitalize the State of Israel in a variety of ways that are possible thanks to the connection we forge with diaspora Jews," Almog said.

"This commitment, which has been felt so strongly since the October 7 massacre, is the source of strength for the healing of Israeli society," he said.

In February 2024, the Jewish News Syndicate reported a growing interest among Diaspora Jews to move to Israel as an act of Zionism and because of an increase in global antisemitism.

“Since the start of the war, there has been a 300% increase in aliyah (immigration) applications from France, a 150% jump from Canada, a 100% rise from the United States and a 40% increase from the United Kingdom,” JNS reported.