Aliyah Falls Overall, but Western Jews Are Moving to Israel in Growing Numbers

A total of 22,522 new immigrants, or “olim”, made Aliyah in 2025, about 10,000 fewer than in 2024, according to the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration’s 2025 annual report. But behind the overall decline, the report points to a major shift: Aliyah from Western countries rose by about 25%, reaching 8,499 olim.

The drop in total Aliyah mainly reflects the slowdown of the post-Ukraine war Aliyah wave from Russia and Ukraine, while more Jews from Western countries are choosing to move to Israel despite war, instability and rising antisemitism abroad.

Western olim rose from 21% of all olim in 2024 to 38% in 2025. Russia remained the largest source country, with 8,553 olim in 2025, but that was far below its 10-year average of 15,990. Ukraine fell even more sharply, with 931 olim compared with a 10-year average of 5,794.

The Western increase was led by France and the United States. French Aliyah rose 51%, from 2,229 olim in 2024 to 3,360 in 2025. Aliyah from the U.S. reached 3,781 olim, up about 11% from 2024. U.S. Aliyah has now risen three years in a row, from 2,724 in 2023 to 3,409 in 2024 and 3,781 in 2025.

Aliyah from Britain rose 27.6%, with 899 olim in 2025 compared with a 10-year average of 609. Canada recorded 459 olim, up about 12% and above its 10-year average of 405.

Jewish Agency Chairman Doron Almog called the 2025 Aliyah numbers “a moving testament to Jewish resilience and the strength of the Zionist spirit,” saying that even during war, “thousands of young people and families chose to bind their fate with Israel and build a shared future here.”

The report also shows that many of the new olim are young and professionally significant for Israel. About one-third of all olim in 2025 were ages 18–35. Among Western olim, that figure was about 40%. In addition, 3,165 new olim enlisted in the IDF, and 43% of those immigrant soldiers were lone soldiers.

The report said 541 doctors made Aliyah in 2025, while 5,535 olim students studied in Israeli academic institutions.

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass of Nefesh B’Nefesh said the new olim are “already helping to address Israel’s national needs and strengthen its future,” adding that their decision to build their lives in Israel comes at “this pivotal moment in the country’s history.”

The ministry pointed to several possible reasons for the rise from Western countries, including expanded pre-Aliyah guidance, Aliyah conferences, personal advising in Jewish communities, digital tools for checking eligibility, and support in employment, education, housing and professional licensing. About 30,000 Aliyah files were opened worldwide in 2025, and more than 20,000 people took part in Aliyah fairs around the world, including more than 13,000 in France.

Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer said the government is promoting steps to encourage Aliyah from countries where antisemitism is rising, together with programs for employment, housing, higher education and community integration.

Still, the report makes clear that bringing olim to Israel is only the first stage. About 43% of working-age olim have higher education, compared with about 30% of the rest of the population. At the time checked by the ministry, 62% of olim were working, and 82% of working olim had full-time jobs.

But many still face Hebrew barriers, licensing problems, weaker professional networks and jobs that do not match their education. The report found that 26% of olim said their work did not match their education, compared with 15% among the rest of the population, and 65% changed their field of work after Aliyah.

Overall Aliyah is down, but the profile of Aliyah is changing. The Russia-Ukraine surge has slowed, while a growing Western wave is arriving with students, soldiers, doctors, professionals and young families. The challenge now is whether Israel can turn that human capital into successful long-term absorption.