Israel population reaches 10.3 million amid rising Western immigration

Israel's population has reached approximately 10.3 million people ahead of the Rosh Hashanah holiday, according to data from the Central Bureau of Statistics. The country saw a 1.2% growth rate since the previous Jewish New Year, adding roughly 124,000 inhabitants.

Immigration, known as aliyah, remains a key driver. The Immigration and Absorption Authority reported that approximately 20,000 new immigrants arrived in the past year. While overall immigration saw a 6% decline compared to the previous year, arrivals from Western nations increased. Specifically, immigration from France rose by 65%, from the United States by 15%, and from the United Kingdom reached a 40-year high. This trend was offset by a significant decrease in immigrants arriving from Russia.

Demographic growth is also heavily influenced by a high birth rate, with approximately 182,000 births recorded since the last Rosh Hashanah. The Israeli fertility rate remains at 2.88 children per woman, significantly higher than the OECD average of 1.41.

Despite population growth, economic challenges persist. While housing prices saw slight decreases, rental costs rose by 4.3%. Approximately 23.4% of the population reported difficulty covering monthly household expenses.