Demographics of Israel

This article discusses the demographics of Israel.

Population

(July 2005)

Total: 6,352,117

note: includes about 187,000 Israeli settlers in the West Bank, about 20,000 in the Golan Heights, and fewer than 177,000 in East Jerusalem (July 2006 est.)

Age structure

0-14 years: 26.3% (male 855,054/female 815,619)

15-64 years: 63.9% (male 2,044,135/female 2,016,647)

65 years and over: 9.8% (male 266,671/female 353,991) (2006 est.)

During the 1990s, the Jewish population growth rate was about 3% per year, as a result of massive immigration to Israel, primarily from the republics of the former Soviet Union. There is also a high population growth rate among certain Jewish groups, especially adherents of Haredi Judaism.

Crude birth rate

17.97 births/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Crude death rate

6.18 deaths/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2006 est.)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female

under 15 years: 1.05 male(s)/female

15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over: 0.75 male(s)/female

total population: 0.99 male(s)/female (2006 est.)

Infant mortality rate

total: 6.89 deaths/1,000 live births

male: 7.61 deaths/1,000 live births

female: 6.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2006 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 79.46 years

male: 77.33 years

female: 81.7 years (2006 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.41 children born/woman (2006 est.)

Nationality

noun: Israeli(s)

adjective: Israeli

Ethnic groups

Jewish 80.1% (Europe/America-born 32.1%, Israel-born 20.8%, Africa-born 14.6%, Asia-born 12.6%), non-Jewish 19.9% (mostly Arab) (1996 est.)

Jews

See also: Jewish ethnic divisions

Among Jews, 68% were Sabras (Israeli-born), mostly second or third generation Israelis, and the rest are olim — 22% from Europe and the Americas, and 10% from Asia and Africa, including the Arab countries.^*

Traditionally, Jews are grouped into:

Ashkenazim - Jews whose ancestors lived in from Germany, France, and Eastern Europe. Most Jewish immigrants to Israel from Russia, Poland, Romania, Hungary, North America, South Africa and Australia are Ashkenazim.
Sephardim - Jews whose ancestors lived in Spain and Portugal. Most Jewish immigrants to Israel from Morocco, Turkey, and many from other North African and Mediterranean areas are Sephardim. In modern Israeli Hebrew usage, this category often includes Mizrahim (see next group).
Mizrahim - Jews whose ancestors lived in Arab or Muslim lands, but did not live in Spain or Portugal. Most Jewish immigrants to Israel from Iran, Iraq, Yemen, and Syria are considered Mizrahim.

Note: In Israel, Jews with origins in Western (Christian) countries are called Ashkenazi though many are not. The Jews of Italy are Bené Roma; the Georgian are Gruzim; the Greek are Romaniotes; and many of the Bulgarian and Latin American are Sephardic. These groups claim distinct cultures and histories.

Those with origins in Muslim and Arab lands are commonly called Sephardi though many are not. The Jews of Iran and Iraq are Mizrahi and the Yemenite and Omani are Temani. None of these groups include the Beta Israel of Ethiopia who were brought to Israel during Operation Solomon and Operation Moses, as well as other groups.

For a complete list and thorough discussion of Jewish ethnic groups, see Jewish ethnic divisions.

However, this grouping is becoming used less due to cultural assimilation and intermarriage.

Arabs

Arabs in Israel include descendants of Palestinians who remained within Israel borders during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, as well as Druze and Bedouins. About 9% of Israeli Arabs are Christian.

Religions

According to Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, at the end of 2004, 76.2% of Israelis were Jews by religion. Muslims made up 16.1% of Israelis, 2.1% were Christian, 1.6% were Druze and the remaining 3.9% (including Russian immigrants and some Jews) were not classified by religion.^*

Official figures do not exist as to the number of atheists or otherwise non-affiliated individuals, who may comprise up to a quarter of the population referred to as Jewish. According to one study, 6% of Israeli Jews define themselves as haredim (or Ultra-Orthodox); an additional 9% are "religious" (predominantly orthodox, also known in Israel as: Zionist-religious, national-religious and Kepot Srogot); 34% consider themselves "traditionalists" (not strictly adhering to Jewish Halakha); and 51% are "secular". Among the seculars, 53% say they believe in God(s). ^*

Languages

Hebrew (official), Arabic (official), Russian, Yiddish, English most commonly used foreign language

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.4% male: 97.3% female: 93.6% (2003 est.)

Education between ages 5 and 16 is free and compulsory. The school system is organized into kindergartens, 6-year primary schools, and either 6-year secondary schools or 3-year junior secondary schools + 3-year senior secondary schools (depending on region), after which a comprehensive examination is offered for university admissions. There are seven university-level institutions in Israel.

References

//www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/is.html

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