Bat Yam Leads Israel in Smoking Rates for Men and Women, New Report Shows
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
A 2025 report reveals that while overall smoking rates in Israel are declining, significant disparities exist based on socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and location. Bat Yam reported the highest smoking rates for both men and women. The report also highlighted lower rates of routine dental check-ups for children in lower socioeconomic and Arab communities, indicating persistent health inequalities despite national progress.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Bat Yam has the highest smoking rates for both men and women in Israel, according to a 2025 report.
- Overall smoking rates are declining in Israel, but significant socioeconomic and geographic disparities persist.
- Arab men have the highest smoking rate (36.1%), while Haredi and Arab women have the lowest (under 5%).
- Routine dental check-ups for children show improvement but remain low in lower socioeconomic and Arab communities.
- The report covers 2025 data and was led by the National Institute for Health Policy Research.
Smoking rates in Israel are declining overall, but significant geographical and socioeconomic disparities persist, according to the 2025 annual report from the National Program for Quality Indicators in Community Healthcare. The report, led by the National Institute for Health Policy Research, indicates a slight decrease in smoking among both men and women nationwide. However, it highlights stark differences based on socioeconomic status and population groups.
For men, smoking prevalence is inversely correlated with socioeconomic status, with the lowest group reporting 34.5% smoking in 2025, nearly double the 17.4% in the highest group. Conversely, among women, the lowest socioeconomic group had the lowest smoking rate at 5%, while the upper-middle group had the highest at 15.4%.
Significant variations are also seen across ethnic groups. Arab men have the highest smoking rate at 36.1%, compared to 25.4% in the general population and 17.8% in the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) community. For women, Haredi and Arab communities reported very low smoking rates of 3.9% and 4.3% respectively, contrasting with 15.1% in the general population.
Geographically, Bat Yam emerged as the city with the highest smoking rates for both men (33.5%) and women (22.6%) aged 16-74. Neighboring Western Galilee and Hadera followed for men, while Ashkelon and Tel Aviv had higher rates for women. Conversely, Modi'in and Bnei Brak showed the lowest male smoking rates, and Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh had the lowest female rates.
The report also introduced a new metric on routine dental check-ups for children, showing improvement but persistent gaps. In 2025, 50.9% of 6-year-olds and 45.3% of 12-year-olds had at least one routine check-up in the past two years. Socioeconomic status significantly impacts access, with children from lower and middle groups less likely to receive regular check-ups. Arab children had the lowest rates for these check-ups, while the Haredi community showed higher participation. Geographic disparities were also noted, with Ramat Gan and Rehovot leading in check-up rates, while Safed, Jerusalem, and Golan showed the lowest.
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