Kfar Saba Loses 'Large City' Status Amid Population Decline
Translated & summarized from Maariv by baba
Kfar Saba has lost its status as a 'large city' in Israel due to a declining population, falling from 16th to 19th in national rankings since 2000. The city's population dropped from a peak of 101,830 in 2020 to 98,927 in 2025, with a narrowing natural growth rate. While housing starts have significantly increased since 2025, it is uncertain if this will attract enough new residents to reverse the demographic slide and improve its ranking.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Kfar Saba has fallen from its 'large city' status due to a declining population, now ranking 19th nationally.
- The city's population decreased from a high of 101,830 in 2020 to 98,927 by 2025.
- Housing unit additions between 2012 and 2025 were significantly lower than in comparable cities.
- Construction starts surged by 538% between mid-2024 and mid-2025, indicating a potential turnaround.
- It remains uncertain if the recent construction boom can attract enough new residents to reverse the population decline.
Kfar Saba, once a sought-after city in Israel, has fallen from its status as a 'large city' and seen thousands of residents depart for other urban centers. New construction data reveals a significant increase in building starts, but it remains uncertain if this will be enough to reverse the trend.
According to the Ministry of Interior's local government status report, based on Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) data, Kfar Saba surpassed 100,000 residents in 2017. The population peaked at 101,830 in 2020 and has been in steady decline since, reaching 98,927 by 2025. While the city still has a positive natural growth rate (more births than deaths), this gap has narrowed considerably, from 1,064 in 2014 to just 380 in 2023.
Since 2012, only 6,219 housing units were added in Kfar Saba, fewer than in smaller, developing cities like Kiryat Gat and Afula, and less than half the additions in nearby larger cities like Netanya and Petah Tikva. Building start data reflects this slowdown: 615 units began construction in 2022, dropping to 263 in 2023 and 241 in 2024. "People might have wanted to live in Kfar Saba, there just wasn't anywhere for them," the article suggests.
However, 2025 marked a clear shift, with 785 housing units starting construction, more than triple the previous year. Partial data for 2026 indicates this trend continues, with 983 units starting construction in the 12 months from July 2025 to June 2026, a 538% increase from the prior period. Despite this construction surge, the article notes that it takes years for new units to be occupied, and it's unlikely the city can reclaim residents who have already moved elsewhere.
The city's decline is also evident in its national ranking. At the turn of the millennium, Kfar Saba was Israel's 16th largest city. By 2024, it had fallen to 19th place. The coming years will test whether the increase in building starts translates into a demographic shift sufficient to halt the decline and allow Kfar Saba to climb the national rankings again.