The number of annual Jewish births in Israel surged by 73% from 1995 (80,400) to 2024 (138,698), compared to a 18% increase of annual Arab births in Israel during the same period (from 36,500 to 42,911), as reported by the February 2025 Monthly Bulletin of Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (ICBS).
* The 2024 Jewish births (138,698) were 76% of total births (181,609), compared to 69% in 1995.
* In 2024 (based on 2022 data), the Jewish fertility rate (3 births per woman) is higher than the Muslim fertility rate (2.86). It is higher than the fertility rates in all Muslim countries other than Iraq and the sub-Sahara Muslim countries.
* In 1969, Israel’s and Judea and Samaria’s (West Bank’s) Arab fertility rate was 6 births higher than the Jewish fertility rate. In 2015, both fertility rates were at 3.13 births per woman, reflecting the dramatic Westernization of Arab demography in Judea and Samaria and pre-1967 Israel, triggered by Arab modernity, urbanization, the enhanced social status of Arab women, older wedding age (24), expanded participation of Arab women in higher-education and the job market, a shorter reproductive time (25-45 rather than 16-55) and the increased use of contraceptives.
