Israel's Ethiopian-Origin Population Reaches 179.9 Thousand in CBS Data
Israel's Ethiopian-origin population reached 179.9 thousand at the end of 2025, according to new Central Bureau of Statistics data released ahead of the Sigd holiday, highlighting demographic, educational, and social trends.
At the close of 2025, Israel's Ethiopian-origin population reached 179.9 thousand residents, comprising 93.1 thousand born in Ethiopia and 86.7 thousand born in Israel to fathers of Ethiopian descent, according to data released by the Central Bureau of Statistics ahead of the Sigd holiday.
Demographic distribution shows that 65.1 percent of this population resides in two main districts: the Central District at 37.1 percent and the Southern District at 28 percent. Kiryat Malachi recorded the highest concentration of residents of Ethiopian origin relative to its total population at 13.3 percent. Furthermore, urban centers with the highest number of newborns to mothers of Ethiopian origin included Beersheba, Netanya, Ashkelon, and Kiryat Gat.
In educational indicators, the CBS report highlights that approximately 35 thousand students of Ethiopian descent attended elementary and secondary education during the 2024-2025 academic year, representing 2.2 percent of all students in the Hebrew education system. The matriculation exam participation rate among twelfth-grade students of Ethiopian origin reached 94 percent, closely approaching the 95.7 percent rate in the broader Hebrew education sector.
Academic and professional integration also showed positive trends, with 1,126 individuals of Ethiopian origin earning academic degrees during the 2024-2025 academic year, marking a 6.8 percent increase compared to the previous year. Additionally, 1,085 students enrolled in vocational training courses, while 2,443 active athletes from the community were registered nationwide.
