CBS Report: Israel population hits 8 million

CBS Report: Israel population hits 8 million By DANIELLE ZIRI04/14/2013 14:24

New Central Bureau of Statistics' numbers mark increase of 1.8 percent - some 137,000 people - since last year.



Israeli flags. Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post
On the eve of its 65th Independence Day, Israel’s population hit 8 million, an increase of 1.8 percent - some 137,000 people - since last year, according to a report released by the Central Bureau of Statistics on Sunday.

The report, which comes out annually on the eve of Independence Day, also pointed out that at the time of the establishment of the state, Israel’s population amounted to only 806,000 resident.

The remaining 4% - 318,000 people - are non-Arab Christians, individuals with other religions and those with no religious affiliation.

In the period of time between last year’s Independence Day and Sunday, some 163,000 babies were born in Israel and about 41,000 people passed away. A number of 19,500 olim made aliya to Israel in that same time period.

The CBS figures also showed that at the end of the year 2011, over 70% of the Jewish population in Israel were native Israelis, more than half of whom were at least second generation natives, compared to 35% back in 1948.

In 1948, Tel Aviv was the only city in Israel which numbered over 100,000 inhabitants. Today, some 14 cities across the country are in this case. Out of the 14, six have over 200,000 residents: Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Rishon Letzion, Ashdod and Petach Tikva.

http://www.jpost.com/National-News/Israel-population-hits-8-million-on-eve-of-Independence-Day-309773