Tel Aviv University Study: 99,000 Israelis Left in 2023 and 2024

Israel has experienced its highest rate of emigration in recorded history, with new data released this week quantifying the scale of the departure. An upcoming national election next week may further accelerate this trend, according to researchers at Tel Aviv University.

Itai Ater, a professor at the Coller School of Management, co-authored a study published in February that analyzed Central Bureau of Statistics records. The research found that 99,000 Israelis permanently left the country between January 2023 and December 2024. The study defined permanent departure as being away for at least three consecutive months and spending more than 270 days abroad during the first year. Approximately 50,000 citizens left in 2023, while 49,000 departed in 2024. Ater noted that preliminary figures indicate the exodus continued in 2025.

The surge coincides with the war following the Hamas attack in late 2023, which killed roughly 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 250 hostages. Although a fragile ceasefire took effect in October 2025, Israel still controls approximately 60 percent of the Gaza Strip and maintains regular military operations there. Ater stated that many Israelis are questioning whether they want to raise their children in such a climate. He added that he sympathizes with those who answer no.

Political instability adds to the pressure on residents to leave. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has led the country for three decades, is seeking another term. Current polls suggest his far-right bloc will not secure the 61 Knesset seats required for a majority. Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar party is also projected to fall short of a majority. Ater warned that emigration numbers could rise dramatically if the political status quo persists.

The departure of skilled workers presents a specific economic challenge. The study recorded net departures of 2,360 engineers and 509 doctors in 2023 and 2024. Ater emphasized that Israel’s economy relies heavily on human capital in technology, academia, and healthcare. Avigail Ben-Porat, a 50-year-old single mother in Kiryat Shmona, said she intends to leave but lacks the financial means. She reported hearing rocket fire regularly and noted that many friends have moved to Portugal, Canada, Thailand, and India.

Corporate leaders are also evaluating their operational bases. Liam Schwartz, head of corporate immigration at the Tel Aviv law firm Goldfarb, Gross, Seligman, said some companies are shifting workforce segments to North America or Europe. He attributed this shift to shareholder concerns following the government’s proposed judicial reforms in January 2023, which aimed to reduce the Supreme Court’s powers. Schwartz described the October vote as a potential watershed moment for the country's emigration rates.

Ater characterized the trend as a strategic risk to Israel’s identity as a liberal democracy. He stated that the issue extends beyond national borders to become a concern for the wider Middle East and global community.