Israel Has One of the Lowest Judges-to-Population Ratios Among Developed Countries
Israeli lawmaker Efrat Rayten recently highlighted that Israel has only about 8 professional judges per 100,000 residents, significantly below the European median of approximately 18 judges per 100,000. This claim was examined and confirmed using data from the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ), which reported 8.3 judges per 100,000 residents in Israel in 2022. This figure remains low compared to most European countries, with only a few like the UK and Ireland having fewer judges per capita. In 2025, Israel had 837 judges serving a population of over 10 million, maintaining a similar ratio.
The CEPEJ report notes some nuances, such as the presence of non-professional judges in some European countries, which Israel lacks, making direct comparisons complex. Additionally, Israel employs "professional temporary judges" and public representatives in labor courts, but their numbers are relatively small. Professor Keren Winshal from the Hebrew University points out that despite the low number of judges, Israel's judicial system is relatively efficient, with clearance rates of 100% or more in most case types and shorter case durations than the European median. However, she warns that this efficiency might come at the expense of case quality, though no clear metric exists to measure this.
The main challenge, according to Winshal, is the high caseload per judge, driven by Israel's litigious society, the world's highest lawyer-to-population ratio, rapid population growth, and the emergence of complex cases such as class actions. Despite these pressures, the number of judges has not increased proportionally. Rayten argues that the critical issue in Israel's judiciary is the overwhelming workload rather than the reforms proposed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin. The Jerusalem District Court, for example, is reportedly collapsing under the pressure of increasing cases, including the high-profile Netanyahu trial.
In summary, Israel's judge-to-population ratio is among the lowest in developed countries, contributing to extended legal proceedings. While the system shows relative efficiency, the heavy caseload per judge and growing complexity of cases underscore the urgent need for judicial reform focused on increasing judicial capacity and managing workload.
