Israel's Population Reaches 10.3 Million Amidst Concerns Over Emigration and Healthcare

Israel's population has surpassed 10.3 million, according to new figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) ahead of the new Hebrew year. While the population continues to grow, driven by births, the net migration balance is negative, with more Israelis leaving the country than returning. In the past year, approximately 57,000 Israelis departed, while only 21,000 returned, a concerning trend compared to previous years.

The CBS data reveals that Jews and others constitute 78.3% of the population (around 8.028 million), while Arabs make up 21.7% (approximately 2.173 million). Additionally, about 304,000 foreign nationals reside in Israel. The overall population growth rate was 1.2%, with around 182,000 births and 50,000 deaths recorded during the year.

Despite a high life expectancy, Israel's healthcare system faces challenges, ranking low among OECD countries in terms of hospital beds per capita (1.7 per 1,000 residents). However, public satisfaction with healthcare services remains relatively high, with 77% rating them as very good or good. In contrast, only 42% of respondents gave positive marks to the education system, with a significant number of teacher absences noted.

Economically, national health expenditure increased to 7.4% of GDP in 2025. While 92% of Israelis are satisfied with their lives, only 70.2% are satisfied with their financial situation, and nearly 30% express dissatisfaction. The data also indicates that 46% of the world's Jewish population resides in Israel.