CBS: Emigration from Israel decreasing

But Central Bureau of Statistics report still finds more leaving than returning.

By SHELLY PAZ
jp.services1 (photo credit: )
jp.services1
(photo credit: )
Net emigration is going down, even though there were still more Israelis leaving the country long-term than returning from long-term stays abroad, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) announced on Tuesday. According to the CBS report, 21,500 citizens emigrated from the country during 2005 for more than a year. In contrast, only 10,500 returned that year after staying abroad for over a year, leaving a negative emigration balance of 11,000. However, the report said, the balance has been showing a stabilization trend since 2000 and is constantly decreasing. According to the data, 54% of the 21,500 who left Israel in 2005 were men, and the median age of the emigrants was 29.8. In addition, 55% were unmarried adults, while 34% were married couples. Most of the 2005 emigrants - 73%, or about 14,800 people - were Jews. Out of the 20,425 who were categorized as "Jews and others," 42% were born in Israel, while 58% were born abroad. Of those born abroad, 78% immigrated to Israel from 1990 onward. A third of the emigrants were born in the Former Soviet Union. More than half of the 10,500 people who returned following an extended stay abroad were men (55%), 60% were unmarried adults and 31% were married couples. The returnees' median age was 30, and 84% were Jews. Some 5,300 (55%) were born in Israel. The 2005 emigration balance, not counting olim who arrived that year, showed an emigration rate of 1.6 people per 1,000 residents - the lowest rate of negative emigration since 1983, according to the CBS, which bases its data on border registration. Between 1990 and 2005, 370,000 Israelis left for a period of over a year, an average of 23,000 a year. During the same time, 140,000 returned to Israel at an average rate of 9,000 a year. The emigration balance for those years totaled 230,000, or 2.4 people per 1,000 residents - approximately 14,000 emigrants a year on average.