Tel Aviv University researchers have documented that Israel's emigration trend remained elevated through 2025, continuing a three-year pattern of sustained departures.
The study found that 90,922 Israeli citizens spent at least three consecutive months outside Israel during 2025, a figure nearly matching the 91,499 recorded in 2024 and slightly exceeding the 86,509 departures in 2023. Over the three-year span from 2023 to 2025, a total of 268,509 Israelis left for three months or longer - substantially higher than the 183,219 departures documented during 2013 to 2015.
Conducted by Prof. Itai Ater, Prof. Nati Bergman of Tel Aviv University's School of Economics, and doctoral student Doron Zamir, the analysis drew on data from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics. Because official 12-month migration figures for 2025 remain unreleased, researchers used the three-month threshold instead, noting a correlation of 0.96 between the two measurements. Based on this methodology, they estimate between 45,000 and 50,000 Israelis will ultimately qualify as official emigrants for 2025 under the government's standard definition.
Prof. Ater stated, "Even in 2025 we see very troubling numbers of Israelis leaving the country for a significant period. These figures do not yet pose an immediate danger to Israel's resilience, but if the trend continues without change, there is a real risk of harm to Israel's security and economy."
The researchers noted that emigration debate has intensified since late 2022 amid political turmoil, widespread protests, and the war following the October 7 massacre. Previous research has shown particularly sharp increases among physicians, PhD holders, engineers, academics, and higher-income earners.
Researchers warned that the primary concern is not current departure levels but the risk of acceleration. They cautioned that additional political instability, security challenges, or economic difficulties could create a "snowball" Effect, potentially causing lasting damage to the economy and Israeli society.