New Year statistics: Israel’s population at 8.743 million, up 156,000 from last year

Israel’s population stands at 8.743 million on the eve of the Jewish new year, up some 156,000 people from the year before, according to data published by the Central Bureau of Statistics to mark Rosh Hashanah.

The population growth rate, which while slightly lower than last year’s was similar to recent years, was 1.8 percent, the report shows.

Jews make up nearly three-quarters of the population at 6.5 million residents, while Israel’s almost 1.8 million Arabs make up just over one-fifth of the population. Those of other backgrounds, including non-Arab Christians and those not categorized as members of a religious group by the Population, Immigration and Border Authority, make up less than 4.5% of the population, at 396,000 people.

Israel’s birth rate was 3.11 on the year, with 181,405 babies being born. The birth rate was the highest in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a club of mostly Western developed economies.