Tel aviv: Around 268,000 Israelis have emigrated over the past three years, marking a significant wave of departures since 2023, as reported by Israeli media on Monday. This mass migration, detailed in a study conducted by researchers from Tel Aviv University, highlights a concerning trend of increasing emigration levels.
According to Anadolu Agency, the daily Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that the study found 86,509 Israelis left the country for three months or more in 2023, increasing to 91,499 in 2024 and slightly decreasing to 90,922 in 2025. These figures represent unprecedented levels of emigration compared to previous years. Between 2013 and 2015, long-term departures were approximately 183,219, indicating a considerable increase in recent years.
The study, overseen by Professor Itai Ater from Tel Aviv University's Coller School of Management, emphasized that nearly 270,000 Israelis have left the country between 2023 and 2025. This averages around 90,000 people annually, sharply contrasting with the 60,000 yearly emigrations recorded between 2010 and 2019. Professor Ater expressed concerns about the potential continuation of this trend, warning of the 'deeply troubling' implications for Israel's demographic and economic balance.
The newspaper further noted a disruption in migration stability, with a noticeable uptick in the number of Israelis leaving. An earlier report cited by Yedioth Ahronoth indicated a significant rise in departures among professionals, including doctors, PhD holders, engineers, and high-income earners. This poses a threat to Israel's economy, which heavily relies on high-quality human capital in the high-tech and knowledge-intensive sectors.
This study emerges amidst Israel's ongoing military engagements in Gaza since October 8, 2023, and its expanded operations in Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and Iran. As a result of these conflicts, Israeli military reports have recorded at least 966 soldier fatalities since the onset of the Gaza war in October 2023. Despite these challenges, official figures show that Israel's population still exceeds 10 million.