Jerusalem, 28 Elul 5763

22 September 2003

231/2003

DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ISRAELI POPULATION IN 2002 – FROM THE NEW STATISTICAL ABSTRACT OF ISRAEL NO. 54

  1. Total Population of Israel at the End of 2002 – 6.631 million

In 2002, the population growth rate dropped to below 2% (1.9%), bringing population growth back to the rate that existed in the 1980’s, before the mass influx of immigrants from the former Soviet Union. A moderate but steady decline was noted in the percentage of the Jewish population. At the end of 2002, the Jewish population of Israel was 76.8% of the country’s population (compared with 77.2% in 2001).

The proportion of the Arab population remains 19% of the total population – similar to the proportion prior to the establishment of the State.

In 2002, the growth rate of the Jewish population stabilized at 1.4%, and remained similar to the rate of 2001 – following several years of continued decline. In the rest of the religion groups, there was a decline in the population growth rate compared with the previous year. The growth rate of the Muslim population was highest (3.4%), followed by Druze (2.1%), Jews (1.4%), and Christians (1.3%).

Examination of the components of growth in the Jewish population reveals that the growth rate derives from natural increase (95,000 births less 34,000 deaths). By contrast, in 1990-1995 – a peak period of immigration from the former Soviet Union[1] - the balance of immigration constituted a much larger proportion of the total growth rate.

Among the Moslem population, whose growth in 2002 can be almost exclusively attributed to natural increase, the growth rate was 3.4% (33.7 thousand people). This percentage is slightly lower than the rate that characterized the previous five years (3.6%-3.8%). The rest of the growth derives from immigration, which is due to unification of families (about 800 people in 2002). Notably, the number of births among Moslem women in 2002 was lower than in the previous year.

The growth rate of the Christian population declined considerably – from 2.5% in 2001 to 1.3% (only 1,900 people) in 2002. This decline in the growth rate can be attributed to a decrease in the immigration balance (increased emigration from Israel), as well as to natural increase. This decline was noted for all Christians – Arabs as well as non-Arabs.

Population by Sex and Age (Tables 2.19 and 2.20)

  1. In 2002 – the age composition remained stable

Israeli society is characterized by heterogeneous population groups, which differ in their demographic behavior. The Jewish population of Israel is “oldest” – about 12% are 65 and over, and close to half of the Jewish population (46%) is aged 75+. The Moslem population is “youngest” – less than 3% are aged 65+.

Over the years, the population of Israel has witnessed a process of aging, similar to most developed countries in the world – albeit at a slow pace. Since 1995, the age composition in Israel has remained stable. About 28% of the population is comprised of children below the age of 14. Among the Jewish population, the proportion of children is almost one-fourth (25.5%), and among the Moslem population, the proportion of children is about 43.2%.

Gender Balance (Table 2.20)

At the end of 2002, there were 965 men for every 1,000 Jewish women. Up to age 32, there are more men than women. As of age 33, there are more women and the gap widens with increased age. Among Christians and Unclassified by Religion as well, the number of women is greater (955 and 888 men for every 1,000 women, respectively). Among the Moslem and Druze population the situation is reversed; there are more men than women (1,039 and 1,047 men for every 1,000 women, respectively). As the population grows older, the relative number of women to men grows higher. For example, among Jews in 1980 the gender ratio was 993 men to 1,000 women, compared with 965 in 2002.

Jews and Others by Countries of Origin (Table 2.21, 2.23-2.26)

In 2002 the ratio of native-born Israelis continued to grow, and they constitute approximately 63% of all Jews and Others – 3.4 million persons. Approximately half of them (approximately 47%) are third-generation Israelis.

The ratio of third-generation Israelis has been growing consistently, and has almost doubled in the last 20 years. In 1983 this population constituted approximately 16% of the Jewish population; at the end of 2002 they constitute approximately 30% of Jews and Others, despite the great wave of immigration from the USSR (former).

The largest group of origin is American-European born. (Those born on those continents and their children who were born in Israel). This population numbers 2.2 million, approximately 41% of the population of Jews and Others. 42% of this group of origin are immigrants from the USSR (former) who immigrated since 1990.

The next largest group of origin (after Israel) is that of African-born and their children who are native-born, who number 860,000, approximately 16% of the total Jewish and Other population. This group of origin divides into two main groups: those who immigrated up to the beginning of the ‘60’s, most of whom arrived from North African countries (the Maghreb countries); and the second group, which is immigrants from Ethiopia, most of whom arrived after 1990, and they constitute approximately 81% of all immigrants since 1990, who arrived from the African continent.

The smallest group of origin is that of Asian origin, whose numbers as of the end of 2002 are approximately 707,400, approximately 13.2% of the total Jews and Others population. The Asian-born group mainly immigrated during the ‘50’s and ‘60’s; however, in contrast to the group of African-born, immigration from Asia was almost completely halted.

The largest country of origin continues to be the USSR (former), including its Asian republics. This group numbers approximately 1,160,000, of which approximately 811,000 immigrated beginning in 1990. The second largest country of origin is Morocco with approximately half a million; after that comes Iraq with approximately 250,000, Roumania with approximately 240,000, and Poland with approximately 220,000.

Population by Personal Status and Type of Locality, Data of 2000 (Table 2.19)

Continuing the trend which appeared in previous years, data from 2000 also point to a higher percentage of never-married men than that of never-married women among the population of Jews and Others[2], and among the Arab population. One-third of Jewish and Other men over the age of 15 have never married, compared with one-quarter of the women. Among the Arab population approximately 38% of the men over the age of 15 have never married, compared with 30.5% single women.

Among Jews and Others there are 830 women who have never married for every 1,000 men who have never married, and among the Arab population there are 780 women who have never married for every 1,000 men. The number of non-married (single, divorced and widowed) women is higher than that of non-married men in the population of Jews and Others, in which for every 1,000 non-married women there are 840 non-married men. Among the Arab population, however, for every 1,000 non-married men there are 940 non-married women.

  • In Urban Localities There are More Single Men and Women Compared With Rural Localities

Data for 2000 show that among the population of Jews and Others the percentage of never-married men and women aged 30 and over is higher in urban localities than in rural localities. There is a significant difference in the age group of 30 – 34. In these ages approximately 21% of the men and 14% of the women are single in urban localities, compared with close to 17% of the men and 7% of the women in rural localities. In the Arab population the situation is reversed – the number of single men aged 30 and over is higher in rural localities than in urban localities (17% single men aged 30 – 34 in villages, compared with 14% in cities).

Never-married men and women aged 30 – 34: there were 670 never-married women for every 1,000 never-married men in urban localities, compared with 410 never-married women for every 1,000 never-married men in rural localities.

Among the Jewish population: more non-married men and women aged 30 – 54 were found in urban localities than in rural localities.

  • Tel Aviv – The City With the Highest Percentage of Never-Married Men and Women

Of the three largest cities in Israel, Tel Aviv has the highest percentage of never-married men and women (over the age of 15). Beginning with the age group of 30-34, the percentage of never-married men and women in Tel Aviv is almost twice as high (and sometimes even higher) than the percentage of never-married men and women in Jerusalem and Haifa.

At the ages of 35-39, for example, 27% of the men in Tel Aviv have never been married, compared with 12% in Jerusalem and 13% in Haifa. In the same age group, 26% of the women living in Tel Aviv have never been married, compared with 12% in Jerusalem and 10% in Haifa.

In the age group of 30-34 it was found that in Tel Aviv, for every 1,000 men who never married there are 857 women who never married; in Jerusalem – 809 women for every 1,000 men; and in Haifa – only 595 women for every 1,000 men.

The percentage of non-married above the age of 25 is also almost double that of Jerusalem and Haifa. For example, in the age group of 35-39, 39% of the men and approximately 41% of the women in Tel Aviv are non-married, compared with approximately 18% men and 22% women in Jerusalem, and approximately 23% men and 27.5% women in Haifa.

In Tel Aviv, for every 1,000 non-married men aged 30-34, there are 912 non-married women in the same age group. In Jerusalem the ratio is 907 women to every 1,000 men, and in Haifa it is 859 women only for every 1,000 men.

Haifa has the highest percentage of Arab bachelors aged 30-34: 61% men and approximately 34% women, aged 25-29, who were never married. That compares with 48% men and 23.5% women in Tel Aviv, and 35% men and 22% women in Jerusalem.

Population Distribution and Density at the End of 2002

The level of population density (the number of people who reside in a certain area, relative to the land in the area) in Israel is rising constantly. In 2002 a particularly high population density was recorded in Israel – 299 persons per sq.m. The population density in Israel is rising as a result of the large waves of immigration, as well as the high natural increase in a relatively small area. The density has grown from a level of approximately 43 persons per sq.m. in 1948, to the level of 299 persons per sq.m. in 2002.

The density in Israel is greater than that in a number of neighbouring countries such as Syria (89), Egypt (68) and Jordan (56). On the other hand, in Lebanon the density is even greater (334). In Europe, in general, the population density is lower compared with Israel (32 persons per sq.m.), excluding countries which have a particularly high density, such as Belgium (336) and Holland (389). Population density in other countries: USA - 29 persons per sq.m., Canada – 3, and India – 300, similar to Israel.

In a geographical division of Israel, the peripheral districts – in which approximately 31% of the national population resides – are characterized by a relatively low population density (in the Northern District approximately 252 persons per sq.m., and in the Southern District approximately 67).However, inthe districts in the center of the country - in which approximately 41% of the country’s population resides – are characterized by a relatively high population density (in the Tel Aviv District approximately 6,790 persons per sq.m., and in the Central District approximately 1,208).

Population Density in Urban Localities (Table 2.14)

There are differences in the population density between the urban localities. This density is differential to a great extent: at one end there are large localities (over 100,000 residents) with a particularly high population density, such as Bene Braq (approximately 19,566 persons per sq.m.) and Bat Yam (approximately 16,328); and at the other end, with a relatively low density, are peripheral localities from the southern area of the country, such as Yeroham (238), Arad (approximately 263) and Omer (approximately 291). Of the four large cities in the country, in Tel Aviv-Yafo the density is highest (approximately 7,067 persons per sq.m.); after that comes Jerusalem (which has the greater land area of the two, and approximately 5,430 persons per sq.m.), Haifa (4,278) and Rishon Leziyyon (which has a similar land area to Tel Aviv-Yafo, and approximately 4,133 persons per sq.m.).

Population Density in Metropolitan Areas at the End of 2002 (Table 2.15)

There are three metropolitan areas in Israel: the Tel Aviv Metropolitan, the Haifa Metropolitan and the Be’er Sheva Metropolitan. The Tel Aviv Metropolitan includes 43.6% of the total population of the country, and it has the highest population density – 2,077 persons per sq.m. (compared with the national average – 299). The density ratio in the metropolitan area decreases as one gets further from the city kernel (the city kernel of Tel Aviv has 7,067 persons per sq.m.). The inner ring contains approximately 6,650 persons per sq.m., and it includes very dense cities such as Bene Braq, Giv’atayim and Bat Yam; the outer ring contains approximately 776 persons per sq.m., and it includes cities such as Netanya, Elad, Modi’in, Rosh Ha’ayin and Ashdod, in which the population density is the lowest.

In the Haifa Metropolitan resides 14.6% of the population of the country, and it has a much lower population density than the Tel Aviv Metropolitan. In 2002 the average population density in the Haifa Metropolitan was approximately 937 person per sq.m.. At the kernel (the city of Haifa) was the greatest density - 4,278 person per sq.m.; in the inner ring, a density of approximately 1,024 (including the Krayot localities in the Haifa harbour); and in the outer ring, a lower density (609, including cities such as Karmi’el, Nahariyya and Zikhron Ya’aqov). Among the cities belonging to the Haifa Metropolitan, the city with the highest population density is Qiryat Motzkin (10,368). In addition, a relatively high density was found in some of the Arab localities found in the outer ring: Abu Sinan, with a relatively high density of 1,619 and Tamra, with a density of approximately 820.

In contrast to the other two metropolitans, the Be’er Sheva Metropolitan (which contains only 7.5% of the population in the country) is characterized by the lowest population density – approximately 56 persons per sq.m. This is the result of a relatively large dessert area for the size of the population residing there, and its widespread distribution. In the kernel (the city of Be’er Sheva), as in the rest of the core metropolitan cities in Israel, the density is highest – more than 3,443 persons per sq.m. In the inner ring it is much less – approximately 116, and in the outer ring only 2.3 persons per sq.m. (distributed among 12 localities and the Bedouin dispersal throughout the Negev). The cities with the highest density in the southern metropolitan are Sederot (approximately 4,511), Netivot (approximately 3,895) and Rahat (3,709).

Regional Growth (Tables 2.5, 2.7)

In 2002 the same trends continue which characterized the geographic development of the population of Israel in recent years. The main growth recorded is in the Central and Southern Districts.

In all the districts, the decline in the rate of growth has continued in 2002 as well, excluding the Judea, Samaria and Gaza Areas. The growth rate in most districts was higher than the national average, which in 2002 totaled 1.9%. The Central and Southern Districts both grew by 2.6%, the Jerusalem District grew by 2.2%, the Northern District grew by 2.0% and the Judea, Samaria and Gaza Areas grew significantly by 5.7%. In the remaining two districts a growth rate lower than the national average was recorded: the Haifa District grew by 1.0%, and the Tel Aviv District recorded no growth (0.0%).

The great decline in the number of immigrants who arrived in Israel in 2002, had an effect mainly on the districts which attracted the immigrants of the’90’s, such as the Southern District and the Haifa District.

The Urban and Rural Population (Table 2.6)

As in most Western countries, the population in Israel is mainly urban – more than 91% of it resides in urban localities (which have 2,000 residents and more).

At the end of 2002 the population residing in urban localities numbered 6.1 million, which is 91% of the national population. The annual rate of growth of the urban population was 1.8%, and the pace of growth was 0.2% annually.

The rural population numbers approximately 561,000, and its annual rate of growth totals 2.9% (a rise compared with 2001 – 2.4%). Among the rural population there is a trend of growth, especially because of internal migration of residents to expansion areas in moshavim. In communal localities and other rural localities, as well, the rate of growth is slightly higher than the national average (1.9%).

Urban Localities – the Four Large Cities in the Country

The ratio of residents residing in the large cities in the country (which number 200,000 residents or more) is decreasing, slowly but surely.

The four large cities in the country (Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Haifa and Rishon Leziyyon) have grown at a relatively slow pace (they all grew at a rate lower than the national average), and have recorded a drop in their growth rates compared with 2001. Following are details of the growth characteristics of these cities: