Internal Migration in Israel Reveals Shift From Major Cities to Mid-Sized Towns in 2024

In 2024, thousands of Israeli families relocated within the country, revealing significant changes in residential preferences according to the latest internal migration data. Large metropolitan areas and established central cities are losing population, while mid-sized and peripheral towns are increasingly attracting new residents. The report shows a cumulative net migration loss of about 16,000 people from major local authorities, a 29% decrease from 2020 when 23,000 left. Concurrently, high socioeconomic-ranked cities saw a 39% drop in net population gain, from 14,000 in 2020 to 9,000 in 2024. Even regional councils with medium-low rankings, once popular destinations, have seen their net migration balance fall to zero from 8,000 earlier in the decade.

Jerusalem leads the list of cities with the highest net population loss in 2024, with 7,944 residents leaving. However, multi-year data indicates a stabilization after a demographic decline peak in 2022, when 15,513 residents departed. Following Jerusalem, Ashdod lost 2,365 residents, Holon 2,169, Haifa 1,948, and Bnei Brak 1,781. Other notable cities with significant net losses include Petah Tikva, Bat Yam, Nazareth, Beersheba, and Elad. Even Tel Aviv-Yafo experienced a net loss of 699 residents.

On the other hand, mid-sized cities with accessible housing, ongoing construction, and relatively moderate prices are gaining population. Ashkelon tops the list with a net gain of 2,984 residents, followed by Beit Shemesh (2,736), Ramat Gan (2,248), Modiin-Maccabim-Reut (2,200), and Be'er Ya'akov (1,950). Other cities showing strong growth include Netivot, Kiryat Ono, Or Akiva, Herzliya, and Harish.

Long-term trends reveal dramatic demographic shifts in some cities. For example, Or Yehuda reversed a long-standing negative migration trend, moving from a net loss of 647 residents in 2020 to a net gain of 192 in 2024 due to accelerated housing development. Similarly, Or Akiva has steadily grown, reaching a net gain of 1,095 residents in 2024. Conversely, cities like Harish and Rosh HaAyin, which experienced rapid growth during peak construction years, saw their net gains slow significantly as building projects concluded.

Experts attribute these migration patterns primarily to the balance between housing supply and affordability. As older cities become more expensive and crowded, populations are pushed toward mid-sized towns. However, without continuous urban development and increased housing availability, population growth rates in these towns tend to moderate quickly.