In two years, the number of emigrants from Israel increased by 50%; more highly qualified individuals left.

From 2022 to 2024, Israel faced the most significant population outflow in the last decade. According to new data from the Ministry of Statistics, the number of citizens leaving the country increased by almost 50%. The study covers the period from 2010 to 2025 and shows alarming dynamics: in the last two years, emigration has reached record levels, and the number of returning Israelis continues to decline.

When not only new repatriates leave

The rise in emigration has affected not only native Israelis but also new citizens — primarily from Russia, Ukraine, and other former USSR countries, who arrived in the country after 2022. Many of them, unable to adapt to new realities and facing economic difficulties, decided to leave Israel.

If from 2010 to 2022, an average of about 40,000 people left annually, in 2023 the figure rose to 60,000, and in 2024 — almost 83,000. In 2025, the trend remains close to records: in nine months, about 56,000 citizens left the country.

Reasons for migration and public concerns

Experts cite three main factors for the rise in emigration.
The first is political instability and a decline in trust after the formation of a new government in January 2023.
The second is the war that began in October 2023, and the associated security concerns.
The third is the “reverse wave” among new immigrants who came to Israel from Ukraine in early 2022 but soon decided to return or move further to Europe and Canada.

In essence, Israel is facing a phenomenon of double migration: the country receives thousands of repatriates while simultaneously losing tens of thousands of skilled professionals and entrepreneurs who leave in search of stability.

What the new statistical criteria show

According to updated definitions, an emigrant is now considered a person who has been outside Israel for at least 275 days consecutively. Someone who has spent a similar period in the country is considered a “returned Israeli.” This clarification has made the data more accurate but has complicated comparisons with previous periods.

The Ministry of Statistics does not publish detailed demographic information on the age and gender of emigrants, but researchers note a worrying trend: more and more of those leaving have higher education. In 2023, their share reached 60%, compared to 55% the previous year. This indicates an acceleration of the brain drain — a process that could weaken the country’s economic potential.

Who returns and who does not

The number of Israelis deciding to return home is also decreasing. In 2023 and 2024, only 11.6 and 12 thousand people returned, respectively — fewer than the average in previous years. This suggests that Israel is increasingly becoming a country people leave rather than return to.

Conclusions and consequences

The analysis shows that the current rise in emigration is not a random spike but the result of complex changes in politics, security, and perceptions of the future. Israel remains a center of innovation and culture, but social and economic challenges are prompting some citizens to seek stability abroad.

If the trend continues, the country may face a shortage of skilled personnel and a shift in demographic balance. The issue is no longer about statistics but about trust — in the state, its course, and its ability to retain those who create its future.

NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency