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 secure reinforced room (Mamad), and 15% lack any accessible protected space such as a shelter or safe room. The findings, based on the 2025 social survey, highlight significant disparities in home protection between Jewish and Arab populations, as well as geographic differences across regions and cities.

According to the CBS, while half of Israeli households have a Mamad, 69% of those without one have access to a safe room or shelter, resulting in 85% of households having some form of protection. However, 15% remain completely unprotected. Jerusalem stands out as the largest city with the lowest protection rate, with only 39% of households having a Mamad and 69% having any form of protection, compared to over 80% in other major cities. Other cities like Tel Aviv and Haifa also have lower Mamad rates under 40%, while cities such as Rishon Lezion and Petah Tikva exceed 50%. Bnei Brak has the highest protection rate at 63%.

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 including all types of protection, 91% of Jewish households are protected versus 54% of Arab households.

The report connects these protection disparities to housing market dynamics. Research by the Bank of Israel shows that since the outbreak of the "Iron Swords" conflict, rental prices for apartments with Mamads have risen by about 4 percentage points, reflecting increased demand for protected housing amid security concerns. Conversely, the premium on purchasing such apartments decreased from 8.1% to 6.2%, possibly due to longer-term buyers factoring in potential future security improvements. A recent Treasury report during the "Roaring Lion" operation found that 65% of second-hand apartment sales involved units with Mamads, compared to 45% of the total housing stock, indicating heightened demand for protected homes during extended conflicts.

These CBS findings differ from a 2025 State Comptroller report stating 33.6% of Israelis lack standard-compliant protection. The discrepancy arises because the Comptroller assesses formal compliance with civil defense regulations, while the CBS survey relies on self-reported availability of any protected space, regardless of official standards. Thus, some households reporting protection may not meet formal criteria.

This comprehensive data sheds light on the critical issue of civilian protection in Israel, revealing gaps by location and population group, and illustrating how security concerns influence housing market behavior.