Israeli Medical Schools See 82% Surge in New Students Over Five Years

The number of students beginning medical studies in Israel has seen a dramatic increase, with an 82% rise over the past five academic years, according to data released by the Ministry of Health. In the 2026-2027 academic year, 1,649 individuals started medical training, a significant jump from 907 students in the 2021-2022 academic year. This year's intake of 1,649 students represents a 14% increase compared to the previous year's 1,448 students. The current enrollment also surpasses the government's target of 1,522 students for this academic year, exceeding it by 127 individuals. The Ministry of Health is also focusing on aligning the distribution of medical professionals with the population's needs, both in terms of specialties and geographic placement. Beyond general medicine, enrollment in other health professions has also grown substantially. Physiotherapy saw a 63% increase in new students compared to the 2021-2022 academic year, with 408 starting this year versus 347 last year. Occupational therapy enrollment grew by 72%, with 541 students beginning this year compared to 484 previously. The number of students studying speech and communication disorders remained stable at 442. Projections indicate continued growth, with an estimated 1,700 new medical students by 2027 and around 2,000 by 2030, up from 820 in 2020. The overall number of physicians in Israel is expected to rise by approximately 42% from 37,000 in 2025 to 53,000 by 2035. The number of specialist physicians is projected to increase by about 57%, from 20,300 to 32,000. This growth is expected to lead to a roughly 16% increase in physicians per capita and a 31% increase in specialist physicians per capita, considering population growth.