CBS: Israel's population at 7.2 million

On the eve of the Jewish New Year 5,393,400 of the citizens are Jewish (75.8% of the population), 1,413,300 are Arab (19.9%)
 
According to data released last week by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), Israel's population on the eve of Rosh Hashana (Jewish New Year) 5768 stands at 7.2 million.
 
5,393,400 of the citizens are Jewish (75.8% of the population), 1,413,300 are Arab (19.9%), and about 309,900 are defined as ‘others’, most of them new immigrants and their family members who are not registered as being Jewish.
 
The population comprised at least 5.4 million Jews and at least 1.4 million Arabs.

The population grew by 55,000 people in the first half of 2007, after growing by 126,000 people in 2006.
 
The proportion of Jews of the total population has narrowed further to 75.8%, while the proportion of Arabs now stands at 20%. The proportion of non-Jewish immigrant residents in Israel is now 4.3%.
 
The report revealed that Israel's population is younger than that of Western countries, with 28 percent of Israelis aged under 14 compared to 17%, and 10% aged 65 and over compared to 15% in Western countries.

The proportion of people over 75 yo rose from 3.8% in the early 1990s to 5.6% in 2006, with most of the increase occurring in the Jewish sector.
 
2006 saw a 3% increase of childbirth, with 148,170 births. Life expectancy in 2006 stood at 78.5 years among men and 82.2 among women.