Half of Israeli Households Lack Secure Shelters, Jerusalem Least Protected City

New data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reveals that 50% of households in Israel do not have a reinforced security room (Mamad), and 15% lack any accessible protected space such as a shelter or safe room. This survey, part of the 2025 Social Survey, highlights significant disparities in home protection across regions and population groups.

Geographically, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv have the lowest rates of Mamad availability, with only 39% of households equipped, compared to 61% in the Central District and 66% in the West Bank. Among major cities, Jerusalem stands out as the least protected, with only 69% of households having any form of shelter, while other large cities exceed 80%. Notably, Bnei Brak has the highest protection rate, with 63% of households having a shelter.

The data also exposes a stark divide between Jewish and Arab households: 53% of Jewish households have a Mamad compared to just 36% of Arab households. When considering all forms of protection, 91% of Jewish households are protected versus 54% of Arab households.

The presence of a Mamad has become an economic factor influencing housing prices and rental rates. A Bank of Israel study covering January 2023 to December 2024 found that since the outbreak of the "Iron Swords" conflict, rental premiums for apartments with a Mamad increased by about 4 percentage points, especially after the first missile attack from Iran in May 2024. Conversely, purchase price premiums for Mamad-equipped apartments decreased from 8.1% to 6.2%, reflecting different buyer and renter behaviors during conflict.

A more recent review from March 2026, during the longer "Roaring Lion" operation, showed that 65% of second-hand apartment sales involved units with a Mamad, compared to 45% of the total housing stock, indicating increased demand for protected homes during military operations.

These CBS findings contrast with a State Comptroller report from early 2025, which stated that 33.6% of Israel's population lacks standard-compliant protection. The discrepancy arises because the Comptroller assesses formal compliance with civil defense regulations based on administrative data, while CBS relies on household self-reporting of any accessible protected space, regardless of formal standards. Thus, some reported shelters may not meet official safety criteria.

This comprehensive data sheds light on the ongoing challenges of civilian protection in Israel amid security threats and its impact on the housing market.