JERUSALEM (VINnews) — Israel’s population grew to a record 10.178 million by the end of 2025, marking an increase of about 112,000 residents despite a second consecutive year of negative migration amid ongoing conflicts, according to year-end data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics.
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The population breakdown shows 7.771 million Jews and others — including non-Arab Christians and those without religious classification — comprising 76.3% of the total. Arabs number 2.147 million, or 21.1%, while approximately 260,000 foreigners make up the remaining 2.6%.
Natural growth drove the overall increase, with 182,000 births recorded during the year — 76% to Jewish mothers and 24% to Arab mothers. Deaths totaled around 50,000, slightly down from 52,000 in 2024.
Migration trends painted a different picture, however. Some 69,300 Israelis left the country in 2025, while only 19,000 returned after extended stays abroad. New immigration dropped to 24,600, down about 8,000 from the previous year, with an additional 5,500 arrivals for family reunification.
The result was a net migration loss of roughly 20,000 people — a rare occurrence in Israel’s history, previously seen mainly during periods of economic hardship in the 1950s and 1980s.
Demographers note that throughout most of the state’s existence, more Jews have moved to Israel than departed, making the recent trend notable against the backdrop of prolonged security challenges.