Israel's Population Surpasses 8.5 Million - The population has grown more than tenfold since Israel was established in 1948

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.Israel's Population Surpasses 8.5 Million

The population has grown more than tenfold since Israel was

established in 1948 when the country had 806,000 residents.

Israel's population has risen to 8,522,000 according to figures published by the Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of Independence Day starting Wednesday evening. 

The population has grown more than tenfold since Israel was established in 1948 when the country had 806,000 residents. 

Since last Independence Day the population has grown by 2.2% and the Central Bureau of statistics sees Israel having a population of 11.3 million by 2035.

Israel's population is comprised of 6,377,000 Jews (74.8%), 1,771,000 Arabs (20.8%) and 374,000 others (4.4%) including non-Arab Christians. 

Over the past year 195,000 babies were born while 47,000 people died. 

36,000 people immigrated to Israel. 75% of Israel's Jews were born in Israel.

In 1948 Tel Aviv-Jaffa was the only Israeli city with more than 100,000 residents whereas today 14 cities have more than 100,000 residents and eight cities have more than 200,000 residents Jerusalem, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Haifa, Rishon Lezion, Petah Tikva, Ashdod, Netanya, and Beersheva.

Other figures published by the Central Bureau of Statistics include: annual GDP - over NIS 1.1 trillion; annual GDP per capita NIS 134,000; and there are now nearly 3 million cars on Israel's roads.

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