Israeli Migration: 99,000 Citizens Departed in Two Years
A new study confirms record emigration levels as national elections approach next week.
By Marco Kapoor ·
Ninety-nine thousand Israelis left the country between January 2023 and December 2024, marking the highest recorded departure rate in the nation's history. The figure comes from a study published in February by researchers at the Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University. They analyzed data from the Central Bureau of Statistics to reach this conclusion.
The study counted individuals who remained outside Israel for at least three consecutive months and spent more than 270 days abroad during their first year away. Approximately 50,000 people departed in 2023, while 49,000 left in 2024. Itai Ater, a professor at Tel Aviv University and a co-author of the research, noted that preliminary figures indicate this trend continued into 2025.
The period of mass departure coincided with major political and military upheaval. In 2023, a Hamas attack killed roughly 1,200 people and left 250 hostages. Israel responded with a military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Although a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Israeli forces still control about 60 percent of the enclave and conduct regular operations there. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also faced a corruption trial since 2020 without a verdict.
The upcoming national election adds pressure to the situation. Netanyahu is seeking to retain power, but polls suggest his far-right bloc will not secure the 61 Knesset seats required for a majority. Gadi Eisenkot, who leads the Yashar party, is positioned to win the most seats but is also expected to fall short of a governing majority. This often leads to coalition negotiations after the vote, a process in which Netanyahu has long been experienced.
Ater warned that the emigration numbers could rise sharply if the political status quo remains unchanged. He stated that these figures will go up dramatically. Avigail Ben-Porat, a 50-year-old single mother living in Kiryat Shmona near the Lebanese border, said she dreams of leaving but lacks the financial means. She still hears rocket fire and noted that many friends have moved to Portugal, Canada, Thailand, and India.
The departure of skilled workers is a particular concern for the economy. The study found a sharp increase in the exit of doctors, PhD holders, and engineers. Net departures included 2,360 engineers and 509 doctors in 2023 and 2024. Ater emphasized that Israel's economy relies on human capital, pointing to the tech industry, academia, and healthcare sectors.
Businesses are also adjusting their strategies. Liam Schwartz, who heads the corporate immigration department at the law firm Goldfarb, Gross, Seligman, said some companies face pressure from international investors concerned about operating from Israel. He noted that firms are more willing to move workforce portions to North America or Europe. Schwartz traced this discontent to January 2023, when the government proposed judicial reforms that would have reduced the powers of the Supreme Court.
Schwartz described the October vote as a potential turning point for emigration levels. Ater characterized the situation as a strategic risk to Israel as a democracy and a liberal country. He added that the trend is a concern for the Middle East and the wider world.
