Israel's Population Reaches 10.3 Million Ahead of Jewish New Year

Israel's population has reached approximately 10.3 million people, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). This figure represents a 1.2% increase over the past year, with the growth primarily driven by natural increase rather than migration. In 2025, around 182,000 babies were born, while approximately 50,000 people died, resulting in a natural increase of about 132,000.

Despite the natural growth, Israel experienced a negative migration balance in 2025. Over 69,000 Israelis left the country, while only about 19,000 former residents returned and roughly 21,000 new immigrants arrived. This means that the number of people leaving exceeded the number of those arriving, leading to a net emigration of Israelis.

The CBS also released data on other demographic aspects of Israeli society. The total fertility rate stands at about 2.87 children per woman. The average household size is 3.18 people, with nearly 3 million private households and 2.33 million families in the country. Life expectancy is 81.4 years for men and 85.5 years for women.

Health statistics indicate that 83% of Israelis aged 20 and older consider their health to be good or very good. However, 17% of adults smoke daily, and a significant portion, 54.4%, are overweight or obese, with 18.2% classified as having obesity or severe obesity.

In education, approximately 1.99 million students are enrolled in primary and secondary schools, and around 303,000 are pursuing higher education. The report notes that 81.7% of those who took matriculation exams qualified for a "bagrut" (high school diploma).

Despite some challenges, most Israelis report satisfaction with their lives. A CBS social survey found that 91.1% of adults are content with their lives, and 66.1% are satisfied with their economic situation. Nevertheless, 27.4% find it difficult to cover all monthly family expenses, and 30.7% of working individuals are unhappy with their work-life balance. The CBS cautions that recent demographic estimates are based on the 2022 census and a revised methodology for accounting for Israelis abroad and including foreigners in the population count, requiring careful comparison with older data.