Israeli Emigration Hits Record Highs in 2025, Study Finds

A new study analyzing data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics reveals that emigration from Israel remains at record levels in 2025. According to the research conducted by Prof. Itai Ater, Prof. Netai Bergman, and doctoral student Doron Zamir from Tel Aviv University, 90,922 Israelis left the country for three months or longer in 2025. This figure is consistent with 2024’s 91,499 departures and higher than 2023’s 86,509.

The study highlights a continuing upward trend in emigration compared to the 2010-2019 average of about 60,000 annual departures. For the first time in decades, Israel experienced a negative migration balance in 2024-2025, meaning more people left than entered the country. However, the researchers did not analyze the migration balance for 2025 due to insufficient data. They focused on departures of three months or more, as data on longer absences (12 months or more) are not yet available.

Prof. Ater emphasized that the data only include Israelis who lived in Israel for at least three years before leaving, excluding recent immigrants from Russia and Ukraine. He expressed concern over the trend, noting that professionals such as doctors, high-tech workers, and academics increasingly question Israel as their home. "Many are waiting to see the outcome of the elections," he said, adding that while there is no immediate threat to Israel’s resilience, the trend is worrying.

The researchers acknowledged that some emigrants might return within a year, but the high correlation between three-month and 12-month departure data up to 2024 supports the significance of the findings. They also addressed accusations of political bias, stating their reliance on official government data and academic rigor. The study calls attention to the need for awareness of this migration trend amid ongoing political and social uncertainty in Israel.