The Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel has released its estimates for the country’s population as of December 31, 2023, revealing a total of 9.842 million residents. The breakdown indicates a demographic composition of 73.2% Jewish, 21.1% Arab, and 5.7% other, which includes non-Arab Christians.
Over the course of 2023, the population experienced a 1.9% increase, driven by a combination of factors. Approximately 72% of this growth can be attributed to around 179,000 births, with 73.3% born to Jewish mothers, 24.1% to Arab mothers, and 2.6% to others. The remaining 28% of the growth is credited to immigration.
However, the growth rate in 2023 is slightly lower than the 2.2% recorded in 2022, primarily due to a decrease in immigration numbers. While 73,000 immigrants arrived in 2022, the figure dropped to approximately 45,000 in 2023. Notably, 75% of these immigrants hailed from Russia and Ukraine. Nefesh B’Nefesh played a key role in facilitating the immigration of 3,020 individuals from North America in 2023, spanning ages from three months to 100 years.
It’s essential to note that the population estimates exclude immigrant citizens, Israelis residing abroad for more than a year, and resident foreign workers. The bureau also reported an estimated 49,500 Israeli residents who passed away in 2023.
In addition to population statistics, the bureau released a survey highlighting the most popular names for newborns in Israel in 2022. For Jewish girls, Abigail, Tamar, and Ayala emerged as the top choices, while David, Ariel, and Lavi claimed the lead for Jewish boys. Meanwhile, the names Muhammad and Maryam retained their status as the most popular choices for Arab boys and girls, respectively. These insights offer a snapshot of the diverse and dynamic demographic landscape in Israel.
