Nearly 100,000 Israelis Left Since 2023

Israel has experienced its highest rate of emigration in recorded history over the last three years. An economist warns that next week's national election could push those numbers even higher.

Itai Ater, a professor at the Coller School of Management at Tel Aviv University, notes that the period since 2023 has brought war and economic instability to a nation of roughly 10 million people. He points to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ongoing corruption trial, which began in 2020 and lacks a verdict, as a factor in residents' decisions. Ater stated that many Israelis are questioning whether they want to raise their children in such an environment.

A study published in February by Ater and colleagues used data from the Central Bureau of Statistics to track departures. The researchers identified 99,000 individuals who left between January 2023 and December 2024. To be counted, these citizens must have been away for at least three consecutive months and spent more than 270 days outside the country during their first year of departure. The data shows about 50,000 people left in 2023 and 49,000 in 2024, with preliminary figures indicating the pattern continued in 2025.

The departure wave coincides with major political and military shifts. The year 2023 saw the Hamas attack on southern Israel that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 250 hostages. Israel responded with a military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Although a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Israel still controls about 60 percent of the enclave and maintains regular military activity there.

Next week's vote adds to the political uncertainty. Netanyahu, the country's longest-serving leader, is seeking power again. Polls suggest his far-right bloc will not secure the 61 Knesset seats required to govern. A rival bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party is positioned to win the most seats but is also expected to fall short of a majority. Coalition building will likely be necessary, a process in which Netanyahu has long been considered skilled.

The exodus is not limited to general residents. The study notes a sharp rise in the departure of skilled professionals. Between 2023 and 2024, net departures included 2,360 engineers and 509 doctors. Ater argues that Israel's economy depends on this human capital, particularly in the tech industry, academia, and health care. He warned that without changes, emigration numbers will climb dramatically.

Corporate leaders are also reassessing their presence in the country. Liam Schwartz, who heads the corporate immigration department at the Tel Aviv law firm Goldfarb, Gross, Seligman, said some firms face pressure from non-Israeli shareholders. These investors are concerned about the viability of operating from Israel and are more willing to shift workforce portions to North America or Europe. Schwartz traces the discontent to January 2023, when the government proposed judicial reforms that would have reduced the Supreme Court's powers. He stated that these firms feel the government is no longer meeting its part of the social contract.