Income Gaps in Israel Nearly Sevenfold, Spending Gaps Less Than Double
Translated & summarized from Globes by baba
Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reported that in 2024, the highest income decile earned nearly seven times more than the lowest, with net monthly incomes of NIS 49,496 and NIS 7,276 respectively. Spending gaps were less pronounced, with the top decile spending less than double the bottom. Income inequality slightly decreased, with the Gini coefficient falling to 0.333. Housing was the largest expense, and overall consumption spending saw a minimal real increase.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Top Israeli income decile earned NIS 49,496 monthly, bottom decile NIS 7,276 in 2024.
- Household spending gaps were less than double, despite income disparities.
- Income inequality in Israel slightly decreased in 2024, reaching a Gini coefficient of 0.333.
- Average monthly household income was NIS 27,173 gross, with 76.6% from employment.
- Housing was the largest household expense, at 25% of consumption.
- In the lowest decile, expenses exceeded income, and 37.6% of income came from benefits.
A new report from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reveals stark disparities in household income across the country in 2024. The highest income decile earned an average net monthly income of NIS 49,496, while the lowest decile earned just NIS 7,276, a gap of nearly seven times. Despite these income differences, spending patterns showed less extreme variation, with the top decile spending an average of NIS 21,800 monthly compared to NIS 11,900 for the bottom decile, a gap of less than double.
Interestingly, in the two lowest deciles, average monthly expenses exceeded net income. The report, which covers the year 2024 marked by the "Swords of Iron" war, also indicated a slight decrease in income inequality. The Gini coefficient, a measure of inequality, dropped to 0.333 from 0.349 in 2023.
Overall, the average gross monthly income for an Israeli household in 2024 was NIS 27,173, with the median income at NIS 20,540. The primary source of income for most households (76.6%) was employment, followed by benefits and support (14.8%). However, for the lowest income decile, only 60.9% of income came from work, with a significant 37.6% from benefits and support.
Disparities were also evident in asset ownership and digital access. While air conditioning is nearly ubiquitous (96.8%), car ownership shows a significant gap: 50.7% of households in the top decile own two or more cars, compared to only 4.6% in the bottom decile. Internet access also differed, with 93.1% of top-decile households subscribing to internet service versus 54.3% in the bottom decile.
Total average monthly consumption expenditure for households rose slightly to NIS 18,695 in 2024 from NIS 18,088 in 2023, a real increase of only 0.3%. Housing remained the largest expense category, accounting for 25% of consumption, followed by transportation and communication (18.4%), and food (17.9%). The CBS noted that while average spending remained relatively stable during the war year, the deep gaps between income deciles persisted, and potential shifts in consumption habits due to the war could not be determined from the data.
The same event, reported separately by each outlet. Open a few to compare what different newsrooms emphasize — and what they leave out.
Left 1Other 1
Not the same event — other stories that share this one’s people, places, or theme: background, reactions, and follow-ups.
