Sharp Rise in Israeli Emigration: 55,000 Israelis Left in 2023 - 2024: trend is worsening

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) has released alarming data showing a significant increase in the number of Israelis emigrating and staying abroad for extended periods. In 2023, 55,300 Israelis left the country, marking a 46.4% rise compared to the previous year. This translates to approximately 5.7 residents leaving per every 1,000 people living in Israel.

The CBS data reflects Israelis who left in 2022 but stayed abroad long enough in 2023 to be categorized as long-term emigrants. Furthermore, preliminary data from 2024 shows an even steeper increase in emigration, with a nearly 60% rise in the first half of the year compared to 2023.

Political Instability and Economic Concerns 

This sharp rise in departures aligns with reports of growing dissatisfaction among Israelis due to political upheaval, particularly related to judicial reforms led by the current government and Justice Minister Yariv Levin. Many Israelis, discouraged by the government's policies and the broader socio-political climate, have sought better opportunities abroad.

Additionally, nearly one-third (31%) of those who left Israel in 2023 were immigrants themselves, mainly from countries in the former Soviet Union. These individuals, some of whom fled to Israel following the war in Ukraine, returned abroad within a short period, continuing to affect emigration rates into early 2023.

 Higher Emigration Numbers

The CBS recently updated its methodology for measuring long-term emigration. According to the new criteria, an Israeli is considered a long-term emigrant if they have stayed abroad for at least 275 days. Similarly, returnees are classified as those who have returned to Israel and stayed for at least 275 days.

This change in measurement resulted in an increase in the reported number of long-term emigrants, with an average of 36,000 leaving annually between 2010 and 2021, compared to the previously measured 16,000. Likewise, the number of returnees increased to 15,000 annually from 10,000 in previous measurements.

Highly Educated and Diverse Emigrant Population

The CBS report also highlighted the educational and demographic profile of the emigrants. Among those aged 20-90 who left in 2023, 53.7% had 13 years or more of formal education, compared to 44.2% of the general Israeli population in that age range.

The emigrant population was also diverse, with 61.3% identifying as Jewish, lower than their overall representation in the population (73.7%). A significant portion of those leaving—32.4%—were non-Arab Christians or people unclassified by religion, even though these groups make up only 4.9% of Israel’s population.

Negative Immigration Balance Worsens

The gap between those leaving Israel and those returning has also widened. In 2023, the negative immigration balance, or the difference between those emigrating and those returning, stood at 27,500.

Preliminary figures for 2024 indicate the trend is worsening, with 40,600 people leaving in the first seven months alone, a 58.9% increase from 2023’s 25,500 in the same period.

The CBS data paints a concerning picture of emigration from Israel, driven by political uncertainty, economic pressures, and the fallout from ongoing global conflicts. The long-term implications of this exodus, particularly on Israel's demographic and economic future, remain to be seen.