Israel's Population Reaches 10.2 Million Amidst Negative Migration Balance

As Rosh Hashanah approaches, the Central Bureau of Statistics has released its "Israel in Numbers" report for 2026, detailing the nation's demographic and socioeconomic landscape. The population of Israel was estimated at approximately 10.203 million people by the end of 2025. This figure includes about 9.916 million Israelis, with 2.149 million identified as Arab citizens. The country's population grew by 1.2% over the past year, adding around 124,000 individuals, driven by 182,000 births and offset by 50,000 deaths.

However, the report highlights a negative migration balance. While 24,000 new immigrants arrived and 21,000 Israelis returned from abroad, a significant number of 57,000 Israelis emigrated, resulting in a net loss of approximately 8,000 individuals from the Israeli population.

In terms of health, life expectancy for both men (78.7 years) and women (85.4 years) in Israel exceeds the OECD average. The report also notes a high national health expenditure of 156.8 billion shekels (7.4% of GDP) and a concerningly low ratio of 1.7 general hospital beds per 1,000 residents, significantly below the OECD average of 3.0.

Regarding living standards, the average gross monthly income for households was 26,330 shekels, with net income at 21,606 shekels. Housing costs constituted 25.3% of monthly expenses, followed by transportation and communication at 18.6%, and food at 17.9%. The report also indicates that 64.1% of households own their homes, and a gender pay gap persists, with women earning 50.9% of men's income as self-employed and 61.7% as salaried employees.

Other key statistics include 15.9 million Jews worldwide as of January 2026, with 46% residing in Israel. Daily cigarette smoking among adults aged 21 and over stands at 17.9%, higher than the OECD average. Cancer remains the leading cause of death, accounting for 23.5% of fatalities in 2023, followed by heart disease at 12.2%. The report also mentions that 1,337 soldiers and civilians were killed in the conflict from October 7, 2023, to the end of 2023.