As 2019 begins, Israel’s population stands at 9 million

Central Bureau of Statistics: 74.3% of the population is Jewish, 20.9% is Arab and another 4.5% are residents who immigrated to Israel under the Law of Return despite not being recognized as Jewish • A record-breaking 185,000 babies were born in 2018.

By Zeev Klein and Ariel Whitman, ISRAEL HAYOM

The population of Israel stood at nearly 9 million people as the country ushered in 2019 on Tuesday. According to the Central Bureau of Statistics, 74.3% of the population is Jewish, 20.9% is Arab, and another 4.5% are residents who immigrated to Israel under the Law of Return despite not being recognized as Jews.

In 2018 the population grew by 2%, and in 2025 it is expected to hit the 11 million mark.

A record-breaking 185,000 babies were born in 2018 – 74.4% were Jewish, 22.8% were Arab and 2.8% were others.

Also contributing the growth of the population was Jewish immigration, with some 28,000 people making their new homes in Israel. Their main countries of origin: Russia (31.5%), Ukraine (19.6%), France (8%) and the United States (7.9%).