Israeli population tops 10m but faces declining growth with more citizens leaving

Israel’s population reached an estimated 10.15 million, but new data from the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) released on Wednesday highlighted a slowing growth rate and rising emigration as key demographic trends.

The figures were released ahead of Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year, which begins on Monday at sundown.

Jews and others account for roughly 7.76 million residents, or 78.5% of the total population, while Arabs number approximately 2.13 million, representing 21.5%. In addition, around 260,000 foreign citizens reside in Israel, bringing the total number of Israeli citizens to just under 9.89 million.

Over the past Hebrew year, the population grew by about 101,000 people, marking a growth rate of 1%, down from 1.2% in 2014 and 2% in 2013. The CBS attributed the slowdown to changes in how departing and returning Israelis are counted, combined with a negative immigration balance: approximately 28,000 more Israelis left the country than arrived as immigrants. Nevertheless, roughly 25,000 new immigrants arrived, including 5,000 through family reunification, and about 21,000 Israelis returned from abroad.

Natural population increase remains the main driver of growth. Around 179,000 babies were born in the past year while 50,000 people died. Among adult deaths, nearly 24% were caused by cancer and 12% by heart disease. Life expectancy in Israel is 81.4 years for men and 85.5 for women, reflecting ongoing improvements in healthcare and living standards.

CBS data also highlighted the social and cultural landscape of Israel. Among Jewish adults, 42.7% identify as secular, 33.5% as traditional (mostly not strongly religious), 12% as religious, and 11.4% as Orthodox. Family patterns show that over 48,000 couples married last year, while roughly 15,000 divorced. Fertility remains relatively high, with an average of 2.87 children per woman.

Household statistics revealed that 62.7% of Israelis live in homes they own, although only about a third have fully paid off their mortgages. Average monthly household expenditure is roughly 17,600 shekels (\$4,700), with housing, transport, and food consuming the largest shares. Technological adoption is widespread: 98% of households have at least one mobile phone, and 77% have a computer.

Despite economic and demographic challenges, most Israelis report high life satisfaction — over 91% overall, with slightly higher rates among Jews (92.4%) than Arabs (85.5%). About half expect their economic situation to improve in the coming years.