Israel Population

Israel is a striking outlier among wealthy nations, with a fertility rate around three children per woman, by far the highest in the developed world. High birth rates among both religious Jewish communities and Arab citizens keep the population young and growing strongly. While its peers shrink and age, Israel faces the opposite challenge of planning for sustained expansion.

Israel is the world's 98th most populous country, home to about 9.6 million people in 2026. In Western Asia, where it lies, that future is driven by fertility, longevity and the movement of people across its borders. Population density stands at about 446 people for every square kilometre of land.

The defining marker in Israel's future is its peak, expected around 2100 at about 19.7 million. After that the population eases back toward 19.7 million by 2100, having passed through 13.0 million at mid-century.

Half of Israel is currently younger than about 29, but by 2100 the median age is projected to reach around 41, while life expectancy, near 83 years, keeps rising. A rising median age means fewer working-age people supporting each retiree over time.

Fertility is around 2.78 births per woman, above the replacement level, which keeps natural growth positive for now. Net inward migration adds to the population each year and partly offsets the low birth rate.

All of this is a projection, not a prediction. The further out it runs the wider the plausible range becomes, which is why Israel's charts show a low-to-high band around the central line.