Demographics of Israel

note: includes about 224,200 Israeli settlers in the West Bank (excluding East Jerusalem), and about 7,500 in the Gaza Strip. [2] (http://194.90.153.197/shnaton54/st02_07x.pdf)

Age structure

0-14 years: 28% (male 825,443; female 787,159)

15-64 years: 63% (male 1,831,142; female 1,820,424)

65 years and over: 9% (male 248,695; female 329,591) (2000 est.)

Population growth rate

(2001-2002 annual averages) [3] (http://194.90.153.197/shnaton54/st02_02.pdf)

overall: 2.0%

Jewish population: 1.8% (of which 32.8% are due to immigration balance)

Arab population: 3.1% (almost entirely due to natural increase)

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 ultra-Orthodox Jews.

Birth rate

19.32 births/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Death rate

6.22 deaths/1,000 population (2000 est.)

Net migration rate

3.63 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2000 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 (2000 est.)

Infant mortality rate

7.9 deaths/1,000 live births (2000 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 78.57 years

male: 76.57 years

female: 80.67 years (2000 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.6 children born/woman (2000 est.)

Nationality

noun: Israeli(s)

adjective: Israeli

Ethnic groups

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Two Israeli soldiers chat with Israeli Arabs in the Galilee, 1978

Jewish: 80.9%, Arab: 19.1% (end of 2002).

Note: The figure for "Jewish" includes people who are not classified as "Jewish" by religion. These are mainly immigrants from the former USSR which are either Christian or of unclassified religion.

Among Jews, 63% are Israeli-born. 27% are immigrants from the West, and 11% are immigrants from developing countries in Asia and Africa, including Arab countries and the African nation of Ethiopia: see Ethiopian Jews. [4] (http://www.cbs.gov.il/shnaton53/st02_21x.pdf)

Traditionally, Jews are grouped into:

Ashkenazim - Jews whose ancestors lived in France, Germany, and eastern-Europe. Most immigrants to Israel from North America, Russia, South Africa and Australia are Ashkenazim.
Sephardim - Jews whose ancestors lived in Spain, Portugal, North Africa, and other Mediterranean areas. This category often includes Mizrahim (see next group).
Mizrahim - Near-eastern or Oriental Jews, people who descend from ancient Jewish communities in Muslim lands.

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 of Jewish ethnic groups, see Jewish ethnic divisions.

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

Religions

Jewish 76.8%, Muslim 15.7% (mostly Sunni), Christian 2.1%, Druze 1.6%, other 3.7% (end of 2002). [5] (http://194.90.153.197/shnaton54/st02_01.pdf)

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Israeli_society.jpg

Two extremes of Israeli Society; the Haredi and the Secular

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" (orthodox); 34% consider themselves "traditionalists" (not strictly adhering to Jewish halacha); and 51% are "secular". Among the seculars, 53% say they believe in God. [6] (http://www.geocities.com/demokratya/dat/shavit.htm)

Languages

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

Literacy

(2003 est.)

definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 95.4% male: 97.3% female: 93.6%

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