Israel’s Fertility Rate Tops List of Developed Countries

Israel’s population has grown by 156,000 since the last Jewish New Year, an almost 2 percent increase, which is similar to previous years.

According to Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), some 172,000 babies were born in Israel over the course of the year, and the Jewish State can boast the highest fertility rate in the OECD, an international organization of developed nations. Sadly, 43,000 have died.

These numbers were released by CBS via its traditional statistics report on the citizens of Israel in honor of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, which will be celebrated on Thursday and Friday.

Israel now has a total of 8,743,000 citizens.

The Jewish population stands at 6,523,000, 75 percent of the entire population. Israel’s Arab citizens constitute 20.9 percent of the total population, numbering approximately 1,824,000. Non-Arab Christians and other religious groups constitute 4.5 percent of the population.

Israel’s population has grown by 156,000 since the last Jewish New Year, a 1.8 percent growth, which was similar to previous years.

According to CBS projections, Israel’s population will pass the 10 million mark in 2024, and the 15 million mark around 2048, Israel’s 100^th birthday. The Jewish state’s population will reach 20 million in 2065.

Almost 26,000 Jews made Aliyah (immigrated to Israel) over the past year and made Israel their new home, mostly form the former Soviet Union, with 17 percent from France and 11 percent from Northern America.

Israel’s population is young in comparison with other Western countries. Children up to the age of 14 constitute 28 percent of the population.

By: United with Israel Staff