Israel Faces Deepening Brain Drain as Researchers and Scientists Leave in Growing Numbers

Israel is facing a growing shortage of researchers and scientists, as new data published today by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reveals a sharp rise in the number of highly educated Israelis—particularly PhD holders—who have moved abroad for extended periods.

According to the data, 2024 marked a turning point, with Israel recording a negative migration balance of academics: more degree-holders left the country than returned. The trend is most pronounced among young researchers, whose education required significant public investment and who are considered vital to Israel’s research capacity and economic growth.

Young, Highly Educated, and Leaving

The CBS characterizes the current wave of emigration as young, highly educated, and largely drawn from established communities, particularly in Tel Aviv, the Sharon region, and surrounding localities.

As of 2024:

• 11.9% of Israelis with a PhD live abroad

• 8.1% of holders of a master’s degree reside outside Israel

The data reflect long-term relocation rather than temporary postdoctoral training. It covers degree holders who graduated between 1990 and 2018, indicating a sustained and structural trend.

High Emigration Rates in Key Scientific Fields

The scale of the brain drain is especially striking in critical scientific disciplines:

• Mathematics – 25.4% of PhD holders abroad

• Computer Science – 21.7%

• Genetics – 19.4%

• Microbiology – 17.3%

• Physics – 17%

• Chemistry – 14%

• Electrical Engineering and Biology – similar rates

Institutional data paints a similar picture:

• 23% of Weizmann Institute PhD graduates live abroad

• 18.2% of Technion PhDs

• 15% of science PhDs from Tel Aviv University

• 10% from Ariel University

• 7% from Bar-Ilan University

Declining Returns, Rising Departures

CBS figures show that since 2022, the number of Israelis returning after long stays abroad has been declining. At the same time, 2023 and 2024 saw a clear increase in long-term departures.

Returnees are defined as individuals who lived abroad for more than three years and returned to Israel at least two years ago. That group is shrinking steadily, while emigration continues to accelerate.

Young Researchers Leading the Trend

Among younger cohorts, the pattern is intensifying. As of 2024:

• 14.9% of young PhD holders in exact sciences and engineering (graduates of 2014–2018) live abroad

• This compares with 13.4% among those who earned their doctorates in 2011–2013

Overall, 11.7% of PhD graduates from 2015–2018 were living abroad in 2024—up from 11.4% in 2020 and 10.7% in 2016. This represents a 9.3% increase over a decade.

Where the Brain Drain Begins

An analysis by the Ministry of Education shows particularly high emigration rates among academics who grew up in affluent, education-focused communities. Approximately 11% of those who lived in Ramat Hasharon at age 18 now reside abroad. Similar rates are seen in Tel Aviv, Herzliya, Ra’anana, Kfar Saba, Hod Hasharon, Zichron Yaakov, Even Yehuda, Kochav Yair, and Omer.

Beyond the war and ongoing political upheaval, researchers point to deteriorating research conditions and the government’s attitude toward academia as key drivers of emigration.

Since its formation, the current government—led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—has repeatedly clashed with academic institutions. Critics argue that Education Minister Yoav Kish has spearheaded efforts to exert tighter political control over higher education.

At the same time, higher education budgets have been steadily eroded:

• The higher education budget stands at approximately NIS 14 billion for 2025, with similar levels expected in 2026

• Over the past five years, budgets have been cut by roughly NIS 700 million, mainly through across-the-board reductions

• In October, an additional NIS 40 million cut was approved to fund the Ministry of National Security

• A month earlier, NIS 150 million was diverted to finance government public diplomacy efforts

Academic Boycott and Declining Research Funding

Israeli universities are also reporting a decline in grants from the European Research Council, a key funding source for Israeli science. This is widely attributed to the intensifying academic boycott of Israel, which hampers access to funding and international collaboration.

Researchers report that limited funding, reduced infrastructure investment, and difficulties working with global partners are pushing them to remain abroad, where salaries, grants, and research facilities are more competitive.

A Reversal of Earlier Gains

The current trend contrasts sharply with the early 2000s, when the establishment of academic colleges expanded access to higher education and helped stabilize the number of Israeli academics living abroad. In recent years, however, that progress has unraveled.

Despite multiple initiatives led by the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities over the past 15 years to attract leading researchers back to Israel, recent developments have undercut those efforts.

Today, CBS estimates that approximately 55,000 Israeli academics with bachelor’s or master’s degrees live abroad.

Impact Extends Beyond Science

The brain drain is not limited to the sciences. Among undergraduate degree holders:

• 25.8% of music graduates live abroad

• About 20% of graduates in English language and literature

• Roughly 20% of international relations graduates

The data points to a growing structural challenge for Israel’s research ecosystem. With fewer researchers returning, shrinking budgets, and increasing international isolation, the exodus of academic talent risks becoming self-reinforcing—threatening Israel’s long-term innovation capacity, economic competitiveness, and global standing in science and technology.