Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Israel
Israel: Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas was 566,527 people in 2020. ▲ Rising
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Israel, 1950–2020
Source: European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in people.
Analysis
Israel recorded 566,527 people for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in 2020.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 3.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Israel peaked at 583,573 people in 1990 and was at its lowest, 394,622 people, in 1950.
That places Israel 145th out of 236 countries with data for 2020, putting it in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 15 years of available data.
Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Israel, year by year
| Year | people | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 394,622 people | — |
| 1955 | 424,959 people | +7.7% |
| 1960 | 447,100 people | +5.2% |
| 1965 | 476,900 people | +6.7% |
| 1970 | 500,889 people | +5.0% |
| 1975 | 514,769 people | +2.8% |
| 1980 | 540,528 people | +5.0% |
| 1985 | 551,004 people | +1.9% |
| 1990 | 583,573 people | +5.9% |
| 1995 | 531,979 people | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 514,826 people | -3.2% |
| 2005 | 522,737 people | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 548,032 people | +4.8% |
| 2015 | 556,438 people | +1.5% |
| 2020 | 566,527 people | +1.8% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1950s | 409,790 people | 394,622 people | 424,959 people | 2 |
| 1960s | 462,000 people | 447,100 people | 476,900 people | 2 |
| 1970s | 507,829 people | 500,889 people | 514,769 people | 2 |
| 1980s | 545,766 people | 540,528 people | 551,004 people | 2 |
| 1990s | 557,776 people | 531,979 people | 583,573 people | 2 |
| 2000s | 518,782 people | 514,826 people | 522,737 people | 2 |
| 2010s | 552,235 people | 548,032 people | 556,438 people | 2 |
| 2020s | 566,527 people | 566,527 people | 566,527 people | 1 |
Countries ranked near Israel
- 142 Puerto Rico 626,315 people compare
- 143 Lebanon 591,690 people compare
- 144 Solomon Islands 581,600 people compare
- 146 North Macedonia 551,402 people compare
- 147 Bhutan 535,215 people compare
- 148 Congo 475,799 people compare
More population data for Israel
- Population regions with projections, annual growth rate 0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Urban and rural population 2050, annual growth rate -7.23 % change on previous year (2050)
- Population long run with projections, annual growth rate 0.4941 % change on previous year (2100)
- Un population 2024 vs 2022, annual growth rate 0.3735 % change on previous year (2100)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 05 - Demographic estimates 12,992 Persons (2050)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 03 - Annual population 1.38 Percent per annum (2030)
- Projected population under age 5, annual growth rate 0.0847 % change on previous year (2100)
- World population growth 0.5% (2100)
- Population density 912.52 people per km² (2100)
- Number of children under 5, by world region 1.14 million people (2100)
Frequently asked questions
- What is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Israel?
- Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas in Israel was 566,527 people in 2020, according to European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Israel?
- The highest recorded value was 583,573 people in 1990.
- What is the lowest number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas recorded in Israel?
- The lowest recorded value was 394,622 people in 1950.
- How does Israel rank for number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas?
- Israel ranks 145th out of 236 countries with data for 2020.
- Is number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas rising or falling in Israel?
- Over the last ten years it is up 3.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Israel data come from?
- The figures come from European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC) (2025) – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Number of people living in cities, towns and rural areas. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Estimated number of people living in rural areas. Rural areas are identified using satellite imagery and population data, applying the same definitions across countries.