TEL AVIV: For the first time in Israel’s history, the number of people leaving the country has exceeded the number of new immigrants, a trend experts say reflects growing insecurity and declining public trust in the government.
According to a report by Israel’s National Insurance Institute cited by Channel 12 News, more than 82,000 people were removed from the registry of legal Israeli residents during 2024 and 2025. The report states that the move applies to individuals who have lived abroad for more than five years or who have formally terminated their Israeli residency.
It also notes that thousands of Israelis who initially left temporarily have now decided to settle abroad permanently. The financial newspaper Globes reported that Israel has ranked eighth globally in terms of applications for foreign passports and citizenship, indicating that citizens are increasingly seeking alternative futures.
Sociologists say the October 7, 2023 attacks, the hostage crisis, and the war that followed have significantly heightened feelings of insecurity among the Israeli public. One Israeli citizen quoted in the report said he had applied for German citizenship to secure a safer future for his family.
Data shows that around 500,000 Israelis hold European passports, while a similar number hold or are eligible for American or Russian citizenship. Germany has emerged as the top European destination for Israeli emigrants, with nearly 18% of those leaving moving there.
Analysts attribute this largely to German laws that make it relatively easier for descendants of Holocaust victims to obtain citizenship.
Experts say the trend has also been fuelled by shifting demographics between Palestinian and Jewish populations, security concerns, declining public confidence in the government, and growing criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies.
Social experts add that educated professionals, particularly those in the high-tech sector and liberal circles, are choosing permanent residence abroad due to concerns about their children’s future and Israel’s growing international isolation. This, they say, reflects a significant erosion of confidence in state protection within Israeli society.
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