Despite the Security Situation, 18,696 New Immigrants Chose Israel Since Last Independence Day

The Ministry of Aliyah and Integration published today (Wednesday), ahead of Israel's Independence Day, data on the number of new immigrants who have arrived in Israel since the last Independence Day. According to the government ministry, between May 1, 2025 and April 24, 2026, 18,696 immigrants arrived in Israel, compared to 26,211 in the same period the previous year.

The data show that most of the immigrants came from Russia, with 6,094 immigrants, alongside 3,469 from the United States and 3,277 from France. In addition, immigrants arrived from many countries, including the United Kingdom, Ukraine, Canada, Belarus, Georgia, Argentina, Germany, South Africa, Brazil, and Australia, as well as individual immigrants from additional countries.

In total, immigrants arrived in Israel from 103 different countries around the world. In terms of areas of residence, most of the immigrants chose to live in the Tel Aviv and Central District, followed by the Southern District and Jerusalem, and the Haifa and Northern District.

By age, the largest group is young adults ages 19–35, alongside thousands of children and infants and dozens of immigrants over the age of 81. In addition, 1,546 families arrived with 3–5 members, along with dozens of large families and 935 elderly individuals living alone.

Among the immigrants are professionals in technology and engineering; doctors and paramedical personnel; educators, artists, and athletes; graduates of the humanities and social sciences; accounting, law, marketing, and more.

Minister of Aliyah and Integration, Ofir Sofer, said: "The thousands of immigrants who chose to come to the State of Israel over the past year are a reminder of faith in the justice of the path and of the desire of many Jews to be part of the State of Israel precisely now. We continue to work to strengthen aliyah, and over the past year we have further eased the aliyah process through the reform in professional licensing, a tax exemption for new immigrants, rental assistance, and more. I wish the new immigrants and all the people of Israel a happy Independence Day".