Life expectancy was 77.6 years for Israeli men in 2003 (the latest available figure) and 81.8 for women, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported today in its statistical abstract for 2005. Life expectancy between Jews and Arabs is widening. Life expectancy among non-Jews is 3.2 years less for men than the national average, and four years less for women.
Israel’s population at the end of 2004 was 6,869,500, of whom 5,237,600 were Jews (76.2%), 1,340,200 Arabs (19.5%), and 291,700 others (4.2%).
Israel’s population rose by 1.8% last year, a return to the growth rates of the 1980s. 89% of the growth rate was from natural increase. The growth rate among Israel’s Jewish population was 1.4%. The growth rate among Muslims was double the Jewish rate, at 3.3%. The growth rate among Druze was 2%, and among Christians was 1.4%.
The proportion of native-born Israelis (Sabras) continues to rise, reaching 65% of the total Jewish and others population at the end of 2004, or 3.6 million persons, compared with 35% in at independence 1948. Israelis of European and American descent comprise the largest ethnic group 40% of the total Jewish and others population, or 2.2 million persons. The second largest ethic group are Israelis of African descent 16% of the total Jewish and others population, or 864,000 persons, including 100,000 persons of Ethiopian descent. Persons of Asian descent totaled 700,000, 13% of the total Jewish and others population.
The largest country of original is Russia and other former Soviet republics, with 1.17 million persons, including 233,000 children born in Israel. The second largest country of origin is Morocco, with 494,000 persons, of whom 337,000 were born in Israel. The third largest country of origin is Iraq, with 241,000 persons, of whom 171,000 were born in Israel. The fourth largest country of origin is Romania, with 232,000 persons, of whom 121,000 were born in Israel. The fifth largest country of origin is Poland, with 215,000 persons, of whom 150,000 were born in Israel.
Israel has a very high population density, compared with many countries. Average population density was 300 persons per square kilometer. The highest density was in the central and Tel Aviv regions 1,900 persons per square kilometer. The lowest density was in the southern region 70 persons per square kilometer.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on September 28, 2005