It has been announced that 268,000 people left Israel in three years, and that this wave of emigration poses a serious threat to the country's economy and security. According to a study by Tel Aviv University researchers published in Yediot Ahronot, the emigration that began in 2023 reached a record level last year.
In 2023, the number of Israelis who left the country for at least three months was recorded as 86,509. This figure rose to 91,499 in 2024 and to 90,922 in 2025. In the 2013-2015 period, the total number of departures in the same category was limited to 183,219.
Prof. Dr. Itay Ater of the university's Koller School of Management stated that the number of Israelis leaving for a long period is 'extremely worrying'. Ater warned, 'If this trend continues, emigration could escalate further and threaten Israel's economy and security'.
The study noted that between 2010 and 2019, an average of 60,000 people left annually, while the average for 2023-2025 rose to about 90,000. Thus, after years of relative stability, the migration balance has turned markedly against Israelis.
The newspaper had previously reported a significant increase in the number of doctors, academics, engineers, and high-income earners leaving Israel. The study emphasized that Israel's economy, not rich in natural resources, relies on human capital, especially for high-tech, medical services, and academic institutions. It stated that the departure of these key personnel would 'deal a heavy blow' to these sectors and the national economy.
The study was published in the shadow of Israel's genocide war in Gaza, which it has been waging since October 7, 2023. The Israeli army subsequently launched military operations that also covered Lebanon, Yemen, and Iran. According to army data, the number of Israeli soldiers killed whose names have been released since the beginning of the war has reached 966.
According to data from the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, the country's population is over 10 million.
