Israel welcomed 46,033 new immigrants in 2023, marking a 38.4% decrease from the previous year, according to a report by the Central Bureau of Statistics released on Wednesday.
The decline was mainly due to a significant drop in arrivals from Ukraine, which sent only 2,091 immigrants compared to 14,656 in 2022. Despite the decrease, 2023 was still the second-highest year for immigration since 2000, second only to 2022.
The aftermath of the October 7 terrorist attack and the onset of the Gaza war led to a temporary dip in immigration numbers. However, the trend reversed, with arrivals increasing again in the first half of 2024.
Russia was the largest source of immigrants, contributing 33,116 newcomers, or 72% of the total. Other notable countries included the United States with 2,413 immigrants, Ukraine with 2,091, Belarus with 1,840 and France with 1,006 immigrants.
The majority of new arrivals came from former Soviet Union countries, making up 83.6% of the total. The age profile of these immigrants skewed younger, with fewer children and seniors compared to previous years and a higher proportion of working-age individuals.
Nearly half of the immigrants initially settled in central Israel, particularly the Tel Aviv area. Other popular destinations included Haifa, the southern and northern districts and Jerusalem. Notably, around two-thirds of the new arrivals settled in just nine cities, with Tel Aviv, Haifa and Netanya being the top choices.
In most large settlements, immigrants from Russia comprised about 78% of the total. Jerusalem was an exception, with only 37.4% from Russia and a significant 27% from the United States.