Israel is entering the new year with a population of approximately 10.3 million people, according to figures released by Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of Rosh Hashanah.

The country added roughly 124,000 residents over the past year, representing annual growth of about 1.2%.

Of the total population, approximately 7.83 million are Jews and people classified by the CBS as “others,” while about 2.17 million are Arab citizens. Another 304,000 residents are foreign nationals.

The latest figures also highlight Israel’s continued natural population growth. Approximately 182,000 babies were born during the past Jewish year, while around 50,000 people died.

Life expectancy remains high, averaging 81.4 years for Israeli men and 85.9 years for women.

Migration, however, resulted in a net decrease of approximately 8,000 people. About 21,000 Israelis returned to the country after living abroad, while approximately 57,000 left Israel. Since the founding of the state in 1948, roughly 3.51 million immigrants have made Israel their home.

The CBS figures also provide a snapshot of religious identification among Israel’s Jewish population. Approximately 36.9% describe themselves as secular or not religious, 21.8% as traditional but not very religious, and another 21.8% as traditionally religious. About 12.4% identify as religious, while 11.5% identify as Chareidi.

Israel’s population figures come as the global Jewish population continues to grow slowly. As of January 1, 2026, the worldwide Jewish population was estimated at approximately 15.9 million, with about 46%—nearly half of all Jews worldwide—living in Israel.

As Rosh Hashanah arrives, the figures underscore Israel’s continued demographic growth and its central role as home to the world’s largest Jewish population.