Israelis Favor Cars Over Public Transit Despite Congestion

A growing number of Israelis are choosing to drive to work, with the percentage of commuters using public transportation declining over the past decade. Data from a 2025 Central Bureau of Statistics survey reveals that only 16% of working Israelis now rely on public transport, down from 20% ten years prior. Conversely, the share of those commuting by private or commercial vehicles has risen from 58% to 62%. The remaining 22% utilize carpools, bicycles, e-scooters, walk, or work from home.

The decline in public transport usage is evident across most regions, with the Jerusalem district seeing a drop from 30% to 23% and the Central district from 19% to 12%. Tel Aviv's rate fell from 26% to 22%, and Haifa's from 21% to 18%. The Northern district has the lowest usage at 8.1%, with Judea and Samaria also showing very low figures.

While buses have seen a decrease in ridership, with only 50% of the population using them at least once in the past year compared to 57% a decade ago, trains are gaining popularity. Train usage increased from 39% to 44% over the last decade, with significant growth in the Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Judea and Samaria regions. Overall satisfaction with train services is high at 66%, compared to 52% for buses.

Tram usage varies significantly by city, with 50% of Jerusalem residents finding it meets their needs, while only 28% in Tel Aviv report the same. Digital services for public transport are widely used by younger demographics but are largely unknown or irrelevant to 62% of those over 65.

The survey involved 6,452 individuals over 20 years old, representing approximately 6.3 million residents. The Central Bureau of Statistics has conducted this social survey annually since 2002 to study living conditions in Israel.