8.4 million Israelis
Photo: EPA
Israel saw 35% increase in aliyah last year, stats reveal
On eve of Rosh HaShana, Israel's population numbers at 8.4 million - 6.3 million of them Jewish, 1.7 million Arab.
On the eve of the Jewish New Year 5776, Israel's population numbers at 8,412,000 people, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Tuesday.
Since last year, Israel's population has increased in about 158,000 people - a 1.9 percent increase, similar to previous years.
The Jewish population numbers at about 6.3 million people (74.9 percent), the Arab population numbers at about 1,746,000 (20.7 percent), and there are about 366,000 (4.4 percent) people who are non-Arab Christians and people who have no religion listed in the civil registry.
Independence Day celebrations at the Navy base in Ashkelon (Photo: Omri Maymon)
During 5775, about 168,000 babies were born in Israel, and about 42,000 people died. About 32,000 immigrated to Israel, 28,000 of which are new olim. This is a 35 percent increase from the previous year.
Most of the olim came from Ukraine (about 26 percent), France (25 percent), Russia (about 21 percent) and the United States (about nine percent).
The Central Bureau of Statistics forecasts that in 2025-2030, Israel's population will surpass 10 million.
