As it marks 58 years of independence, Israel’s population has risen to just over 7 million, 7,002,600 to be precise. Since the founding of the state in 1948, Israel’s population has grown 8.7 times from 806,000.
Israel has 5.64 million Jewish and other citizens, including those who immigrated to Israel under the Law of Return. The figure amounts to 80% of the total population and includes 5.33 million Jews and an additional 306,000 non-Jewish immigrants - 4% of the total population - and their families.
Israel’s Arab population is nearing 1.39 million and amounts to 20% of the total population.
Israel’s population rose by 118,000 in its 57th year of independence and the number of births reached 138,000. 21,000 new immigrants arrived, 9,000 from Russian and other CIS states, 3,700 from Ethiopia, 2,500 from France and 2,000 from the US.
The five most populous cities in Israel today are: Jerusalem -718,900 people; Tel Aviv - Jaffa - 378,800; Haifa - 267,700; Rishon Leziyon - 219,800; and Ashdod with 200,800 people. Beer Sheva came sixth.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on May 1, 2006
© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2006