Israeli Emigration Surges Nearly 50% Over Past Three Years, Raising Security and Economic Concerns

A new study from Tel Aviv University reveals that approximately 270,000 Israelis left the country for at least three consecutive months between 2023 and 2025, marking a nearly 50 percent increase compared to the previous decade (2013-2015). The research, conducted by Prof. Itai Ater, Prof. Netai Bergman, and doctoral student Doron Zamir, shows that annual departures rose from an average of 60,000 before the COVID-19 pandemic to over 90,000 in 2024.

In 2023, 86,500 Israelis left for extended periods, increasing to 91,500 in 2024, then slightly decreasing to 90,900 in 2025. The researchers used a proxy measure of three-month departures to estimate migration trends ahead of official data, projecting that the number of long-term emigrants in 2025 will be between 45,000 and 50,000.

The study highlights a sharp rise in the emigration of highly skilled professionals, including about 950 doctors who left between 2023 and 2024, resulting in a net loss of over 500 doctors. Engineers also experienced a net negative migration of approximately 2,360 during this period. Overall, the proportion of emigrants with above-average incomes has increased significantly.

The researchers link the surge in emigration to political and social unrest following the 2022 elections, judicial reform debates, and the October 7 war. While similar emigration trends have occurred in countries like Greece, Hungary, and Lebanon, the impact on Israel could be more severe due to its reliance on concentrated human capital in high-tech, medical, and academic sectors.

Prof. Ater warned that although current figures do not yet threaten Israel's resilience, without intervention, continued emigration could jeopardize the country's security and economic stability in the future.