At the beginning of 2021, Israel’s population stands at about 9.3 million inhabitants in the State of Israel. This is according to estimates by the Central Bureau of Statistics, on the occasion of the new civil year. 6.870 million are Jews, constituting 73.9 of the total population. 1.956 million are Arabs, representing 21.1% and 465,000, constituting 5% are others.
During 2020, about 50,000 people died, an increase compared to last year when about 45,000 people died. In the first months since the Corona virus entered Israel, the number of deaths from the virus was relatively low, as was the percentage of total deaths. However, since mid-July, this percentage has been on the rise. However, at the end of October there was a decrease in the percentage of deaths from corona out of the total number of deaths. In addition, about 6,000 Israelis, who had been abroad for more than a year, died, a figure similar to last year.
We grew up in a year
At the same time, the data show that during 2020 the population of Israel will increase by 1.7%, ie about 151,000 people were added to the population of Israel. 84% of the increase was due to natural increase and 16% was due to the international migration balance.
In the Jewish population 92% of the increase was due to natural increase, in the Arab population – 93%, and in the other population 17% was due to natural increase and most of the increase was a result of immigration.
The data also show that during the year, about 176,000 babies were born, 73.8% for Jewish mothers, 23.4% for Arab women and 2.8% for others.
In addition, about 20,000 new immigrants arrived in Israel during 2020. This is compared to about 34,000 immigrants last year. The main countries from which the immigrants came this year were: Russia – which accounted for 38.1%, Ukraine – with 15.1%, France – with 11% and the United States – with 10.7%.
A blow to the rise
During the current year, following the outbreak of the corona virus and the closure of Israel’s air borders, there has been a significant decrease in the number of immigrants who arrived in Israel. During the first ten months of 2020, ie January to October, 15.8 thousand immigrants arrived in Israel. This is a decrease of 42.6% compared to the same period last year. In addition, about 11,000 other immigrants arrived in Israel: immigrant citizens and people who immigrated under the Entry Law.