Israel’s population stands at 8.585 million, according to an annual pre-Jewish New Year report by the Central Bureau of Statistics. The breakdown shows 6.4 million Jews, 1.8 million Arabs and 380,000 others (Druze, Christians, others) living in the country.
The new statistics show a two percent increase in the overall population — 172,000 people – since the same time last year.
The survey, released days before the Jewish New Year High Holidays, shows 186,923 babies were born in Israel since last Rosh Hashana while 45,033 Israelis passed away.
The Population, Immigration and Border Authority found that 82,315 people said “I do” since last Rosh Hashana while 23,855 people got divorced.
In the past 12 months, some 30,000 people came to live in Israel — 25,000 of them were new immigrants.