Record Exodus: 99,000 Israelis Flee War and Instability

99,000 Israelis departed the country between January 2023 and December 2024, according to a study published in February by researchers at Tel Aviv University. This figure represents the highest number of departures recorded over a three-year period in the nation's history. The count includes individuals who remained outside Israel for at least three consecutive months and spent more than 270 days abroad during their first year of departure.

About 50,000 people left in 2023, while another 49,000 departed in 2024. Itai Ater, a professor at the Coller School of Management who led the analysis, stated that preliminary data indicates this pattern continued into 2025. The study relied on information from the Central Bureau of Statistics to track these movements.

The departures have been fueled by a combination of war, economic uncertainty, and prolonged political instability. Ater noted that Israelis are questioning whether they want to raise their children in the current environment. He said he sympathizes with those who answer no to that question. The period began with the Hamas attack in late 2023, which killed roughly 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages being taken.

Israel responded with a military campaign in the Gaza Strip. Although a ceasefire took effect in October 2025, the country still controls approximately 60 percent of the enclave and maintains regular military activity there. This ongoing conflict has contributed to the desire among some citizens to leave.

A national election scheduled for next week adds another layer of uncertainty. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seeking to return to power after serving for three decades. Polls suggest his far-right bloc will not reach the 61 Knesset seats required to form a government. A rival group led by Gadi Eisenkot of the Yashar party is expected to win the most seats but will likely also lack a majority.

Ater warned that emigration numbers could rise dramatically if the political status quo remains unchanged. He described the situation as a strategic risk to Israel's standing as a liberal democracy. Avigail Ben-Porat, a 50-year-old resident of Kiryat Shmona near the Lebanese border, said she dreams of leaving but lacks the financial means. She reported hearing rocket fire regularly and noted that many friends have moved to Portugal, Canada, Thailand, and India.

Researchers are also tracking the professions of those leaving. The data shows a sharp increase in departures among highly skilled workers in 2023 and 2024. Net departures included 2,360 engineers and 509 doctors. Ater emphasized that the economy relies on this human capital in tech, academia, and health care. Liam Schwartz, who heads corporate immigration at the law firm Goldfarb, Gross, Seligman, said some companies are considering moving parts of their workforce to North America or Europe due to shareholder concerns.

Schwartz traced the growing discontent to January 2023, when the government proposed judicial reforms that would have reduced the powers of the Supreme Court. He stated that many people feel the government is no longer meeting its part of the social contract. Both Ater and Schwartz view the upcoming vote as a key moment that will determine whether the exodus accelerates.