Central Bureau of Statistics clip looks at country as village of 100
Lighthearted video gives a snapshot of Israelis’ daily lives, including the majorities who are reportedly satisfied with work, 87%, and life, 89%
In an English-language video released Monday and titled “If Israel were a village of 100 persons,” the Central Bureau of Statistics offers a lighthearted snapshot of Israeli society at the start of the Jewish new year.
For one thing, Israelis are evenly divided between men and women at 50 percent each, and have lots of kids — 28% are under 15.
The figures offer a broad brushstroke outline of Israeli society, showing that Jews make up 74% of Israelis, Arabs 21% and “others” 5%.
Surveying the Jewish population, the CBS figures show 45% of Israeli Jews say they are secular, 34% “traditional,” and roughly 11% each “religious” and “ultra-Orthodox.”
The video also offers insights into Israelis’ daily lives, such as the fact that 74% of them live in cities, 15% in small towns, just 10% in rural regional councils and only 1% in places without any municipal status — farms, tent encampments, military facilities and so forth.
One also learns that 44% of Israelis are employed, while only 2% are unemployed and looking for work. A large number — 26% — are not employed and not looking for work, reflecting economic and cultural choices among large minority groups, including Arab women and ultra-Orthodox men, who opt to stay out of the workforce. (The final 28% are children up to 15 who are not legally allowed to work.)
Lots of Israelis drive to work — 60% of those with jobs — with buses and taxis only being used by 18%. Just 9% bike or walk to work, 7% are picked up by a workplace van service, 3% take the train and the final 3% work from home.
Many Israelis — 41% — feel they are not handling their work-life balance as well as they might. On the other hand, the vast majority, 87%, say they are satisfied with their work.
The figures show just 73% of Israelis have cellphones, though it’s worth remembering 28% of the population are under 15.
About 4% are victims of violence or the threat of violence, and 4% say they are victims of theft.
One third, or 34%, say they struggle to make ends meet.
But for all that, a whopping 89% say they are satisfied with their lives.
The CBS published a more extensive report earlier this month with more details about Israel’s population ahead of the new year.
According to the data, the country’s population has reached 8.907 million — 162,000 more than a year ago — and is expected to reach 10 million in late 2024.
The bureau highlighted an 89% life satisfaction figure. And fully 84% said they were in good or very good health. Fifty-one percent said they exercise regularly.
Israel’s fertility rate, at an average of 3.11 children born per woman, continued to be the highest among member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). About 175,000 babies were born and 43,000 people died during the past year, with 25,000 people immigrating.
According to the data, 52,809 couples were married in the past year, while 14,819 couples divorced.
The average life expectancy in Israel — one of the highest in the world — is 84.6 years for women and 80.7 for men.
