JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A record number of Israeli citizens left the country in 2025, according to a new study by Tel Aviv University published Monday, raising concerns over the long-term impact of continued emigration on Israel’s economy and society.

The study found that 90,922 Israelis left the country for at least three consecutive months in 2025, continuing a sharp increase that began in 2023. Researchers said the trend remained at historically high levels.

The research was conducted by Prof. Itai Ater of Tel Aviv University’s Coller School of Management, Prof. Nittai Bergman, head of the university’s School of Economics, and doctoral student Doron Zamir. The team analyzed data from the Central Bureau of Statistics, the Council for Higher Education, the Health Ministry’s professional licensing records and the Israel Tax Authority.

The researchers defined emigrants as citizens who remained abroad for at least three consecutive months. New immigrants were counted only if they had lived in Israel for at least three years before leaving.

According to the study, 268,509 Israeli citizens left the country between 2023 and 2025. The figure included 86,509 departures in 2023, 91,499 in 2024 and 90,922 in 2025.

By comparison, only 183,219 Israelis left for similar periods between 2013 and 2015. During the decade from 2010 to 2019, the annual average was about 60,000 departures.

The researchers estimated that 45,000 to 50,000 Israelis who left in 2025 are likely to remain abroad for at least a year, similar to figures recorded in 2023 and 2024.

The study warned that continued emigration could eventually affect key sectors of the Israeli economy, particularly high-tech, medicine and academia, which rely heavily on skilled professionals.

Unlike countries with abundant natural resources, Israel’s economy depends largely on human capital, the researchers noted. Previous studies by the team found increased departures among doctors, engineers, academics and individuals with advanced degrees.

Despite the concerning numbers, researchers cautioned against immediate alarm, saying the current level of emigration does not yet pose a direct threat to Israel’s economic stability or national resilience.

However, Prof. Ater warned that continued deterioration could create serious long-term consequences.

“Looking ahead, if nothing changes, there is growing concern that emigration from Israel will increase to a level that endangers Israel’s security and economy,” he said.

The researchers added that additional political, economic or security crises could accelerate the trend, creating a cycle in which rising emigration encourages more people to leave.

“Once emigration rises above a certain threshold, reversing the trend will be extremely difficult, perhaps impossible,” they said, warning that the broader economic consequences could be significant.