Israel Sees Decline in Public Transport Ticket Validations Despite Population Growth
Translated & summarized from Channel 13 by baba
Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics reports a slowdown or decline in public transport ticket validations in 2025, with bus usage growing slower than population growth and notable drops in Jerusalem's light rail due to renovations, while Tel Aviv's light rail usage increased.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Public transport ticket validations in Israel show stagnation or decline in most lines in 2025.
- Bus validations rose 1.4% to 780.9 million, slower than population growth.
- Jerusalem had the highest bus validations at 171.4 million, followed by Tel Aviv-Yafo and Haifa.
- Jerusalem light rail validations fell 24% due to central segment renovations.
- Haifa's Carmelit validations dropped 7%, while Tel Aviv light rail validations rose 21%.
- Wednesdays had the highest share of bus validations, Mondays the lowest.
The Central Bureau of Statistics released data on public transport ticket validations in Israel for 2024-2025, revealing a decline or stagnation in most transport lines despite population growth. Bus ticket validations totaled 780.9 million in 2025, marking a modest 1.4% increase, which is slower than the population growth rate. Wednesdays recorded the highest share of bus validations at 18.5%, while Mondays had the lowest at 17.8%. Jerusalem led in bus validations with 171.4 million, followed by Tel Aviv-Yafo with 81.3 million and Haifa with 54.8 million.
Light rail ticket validations in Jerusalem dropped by approximately 24% to 29.9 million in 2025 compared to 2024, attributed to renovations on a central segment last fall. The Haifa Carmelit also saw a 7% decline to about one million validations. Conversely, the Tel Aviv metropolitan light rail experienced a 21% increase in validations, rising to 29.9 million in 2025 from 24.7 million in 2024.
