Jerusalem's Population Growth Booms

As Israel prepares to mark the 50th anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem May 23, the nation's capital has experienced significant population growth.

According to the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics, Jerusalem's population has grown from just 84,000 in 1948 to 883,000 in 2016. Around 10 percent of Israel's population resides in Jerusalem.

Last year, 3,118 new immigrants made the capital their home and Jerusalem's population grew by 16,000 people.

There were 23,600 births in the city in 2016, which constituted 13 percent of births across the country. 

The total fertility rate in Jerusalem stood at 3.87 children per woman in 2016, compared with the national average of 3.1. The average household in Jerusalem, with 3.9 members, was also larger than the Israeli average of 3.3 household members.

Ninety-three percent of Jews and 89 percent of Arabs who live in Jerusalem say they are satisfied with their lives.

Jerusalem Institute for Policy Research data reveals the high-tech industry is thriving in the capital. In the past two years, the number of Jerusalem residents employed in the high-tech industry rose by 28 percent. 

In 2015, 18,500 people worked in high-tech, compared to 14,400 in 2013. Workforce participation in 2016, however, stood at 52.4 percent, as opposed to the national average of 64.1 percent.

Originally published at JNS, republished with permission.