On the Threshold of 2005 – 6,862,000 Residents in the State of Israel

76% of the residents in Israel are Jews, 20% are Arabs and 4% are Others; The rate of growth of the population of Israel in 2004 was 1.7%, the lowest since 1990; During 2004 there were 143,000 babies born in Israel; In 2004 approximately 20,000 New Immigrants arrived in Israel, compared with 23,000 in 2003
 
On the threshold of 2005, Israel’s population is estimated at approximately 6,862,000 residents. Approximately 5,235,000 (76%) of Israeli residents are Jews, approximately 1,337,000 (20%) are Arabs, and approximately 290,000 Others (4%) are immigrants and their families, who are not listed as Jews in the Ministry of the Interior. The above is based on temporary estimates to the end of 2004, which were compiled at the Central Bureau of Statistics.
 
During 2004 approximately 114,000 were added to the population of Israel, a growth of 1.7% compared with the population of the previous year. This rate is the lowest since 1990. The main cause of the drop in the population growth rate is the drop in the number of immigrants. The migration balance in 2004 contributed only approximately             8% of total population growth, compared with approximately 70% during 1990 and 1991. Concurrently, the share of natural increase in the population growth of 2004 rose, and reached 92% of total growth.
 
During 2004 approximately 20,000 immigrants arrived in Israel, compared with 23,000 in 2003. For the first time since the beginning of the last wave of immigration (which began at the end of 1989), the ratio of immigrants from the former USSR to the total number of immigrants, fell below 50% (approximately 9,700). 18% of immigrants came from Ethiopia (approximately 3,700), 10% from France (approximately 2,000) and 9% from the USA (approximately 1,700).