Israel’s demographic landscape is defined by high fertility rates and complex citizenship classifications.

History · Published 3 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Israel maintains the highest fertility rate in the OECD, driven by specific religious and ethnic groups. With a population exceeding 10 million, the nation’s demographic profile is shaped by diverse immigration, varying definitions of residency, and distinct growth patterns among its Jewish and Arab communities.

As of December 2023, the population of Israel was approximately 9,842,000, a figure calculated by the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. This total includes Jewish residents in the West Bank and Palestinians in East Jerusalem, but excludes Palestinians in the remainder of the West Bank and Gaza. The population is composed of 73.2% Jews, 21.1% Arab citizens, and 5.7% classified as others, including non-Jewish family members of immigrants and those without a distinct religious categorization.

The nation’s growth is marked by significant fertility disparities. In 2022, Israel’s total fertility rate remained the highest in the OECD, with notable variations across groups: Haredi Jews recorded a rate of 6.1, while Bedouin populations were at 4.4, and the general Arab population at 2.2. Historically, the Jewish fertility rate has risen since 1995, and by 2020, it surpassed the Arab Muslim fertility rate for the first time. These trends are further complicated by the youthfulness of certain populations; for instance, the median age in the West Bank Jewish cities of Modi'in Illit and Beitar Illit is 11, among the lowest globally.

Defining the population remains a sensitive and technical challenge. The state’s official definition includes East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights, both unilaterally annexed, but excludes foreign workers and unregistered individuals. Furthermore, the Jewish population itself is diverse, with 2019 studies estimating that 44.9% of Israeli Jews have roots in Asia or North Africa, while 31.8% have European or American ancestry. These demographic layers reflect a society balancing a strong national consciousness with distinct cultural, religious, and political identities.

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