Haredi populace set to reach 1m. by 2022, study shows

Other findings: Haredi food expenses are 6.7% of nat'l total, lower than their 10% share of population; more likely to invite guests for meals.

By JONAH MANDEL
haredim harvesting 311 (photo credit: AP)
haredim harvesting 311
(photo credit: AP)
The haredi population in Israel is expected to double in size within 23 years and reach 1,018,535 members in the year 2022 from the 545,000 accounted for in 1999, president of the Geocartography Research Institute Professor Avi Degani said on Sunday.
Degani’s study, which focused on the consumer habits of the rapidly growing sector which today is 735,520-members strong, found that haredim spend some NIS three billion of the NIS 45.3b. annually spent on food in Israel. The haredi expense, reaching 6.7 percent of the general sum spent on food, is lower than their numerical representation in the population, which is nearly 10%.
RELATED:'Haredim obliged to work for their, economy's benefit'Editorial: Changing the unsustainableAccording to Degani’s figures, 40% of haredim will eat an evening meal out of their homes on a weekday compared to 53% of the general populace.
The haredi diner, however, will do so only 1.5 times a month compared to the 4.9 times the non-haredi will eat out.
Haredim are also more inclined to invite guests for meals, with 29% of them hosting more frequently than two years ago, compared to 13% in the general population.
Haredim tend to claim to feel better, as evident in the fact that 85% of them defined their health condition as good or very good, compared to 67% of the secular society. On election day, haredim won’t limit their voices to the sectoral parties, and will vote for parties they trust on matters such as security, or such headed by a reliable leader.