[Israel’s population growth slows as emigration rates rise amid war and political turmoil
Israel’s population growth slowed in 2024 compared to the previous year, according to the country’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The decrease is mainly due to the high number of Israelis emigrating from Israel, with 82,700 residents leaving the country in 2024, compared to 55,000 in 2023.
Israel’s population grew by 1.1% in 2024, down from 1.6% in 2023. By December 31, 2024, the population was estimated at 10.027 million, exceeding the 10-million mark for the first time. However, this count includes foreign nationals residing in the country.
The slow population growth is attributed to the ongoing conflicts that Israel is embroiled in. The country has been engaged in a war with Hamas in Gaza, and has also clashed with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group in Lebanon, as well as with Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen and militants in Syria and Iraq who claim to be attacking Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The war with Hamas, which began in October 2023, has seen more than 45,000 people killed in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the enclave. Israel has also been rocked by mass protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government plans to overhaul the country’s judicial system, and has faced domestic political turmoil.
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