Israel in numbers: National population hits 10.305m., new CBS data shows ahead of Rosh Hashanah

Ahead of Rosh Hashanah, Israel's population reached an estimated 10.305 million, growing by 124,000 over the past year, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The annual growth rate was 1.2%, with 78.3% of residents identified as Jews and others (7.828 million) and 21.7% as Arabs (2.173 million). The population increase was primarily due to 182,000 births, offset by 50,000 deaths and a negative international migration balance of 8,000 people. The CBS noted a significant rise in emigration since 2023, with 268,930 Israelis leaving between 2023 and 2025, compared to 83,219 in the 2013-2015 period. Israel also maintains a high fertility rate of 2.88 children per woman, well above the OECD average of 1.41, and boasts high life expectancy, ranking among the top in OECD countries.