Nearly 91,000 Israelis departed the country for extended stays in 2025, continuing a record-setting wave of emigration that has seen nearly 270,000 citizens leave over the past three years, according to new research from Tel Aviv University released Monday.
The data, published by researchers including Prof. Itai Ater and Prof. Nati Bergman, reveals an accelerating exodus driven by prolonged military conflict, political instability, and economic strain. The 2025 figure of 90,922 departures nearly matches the 91,499 who left in 2024 and exceeds the 86,509 departures recorded in 2023.
Combined, the three-year period from 2023 through 2025 saw 268,509 Israeli citizens depart for stays of at least three consecutive months, substantially higher than comparable periods in Israel's recent history. By comparison, annual departures averaged approximately 60,000 per year throughout the 2010-2019 decade. During the 2013-2015 period, only 183,219 Israelis left for similar durations.
Researchers estimate that approximately 45,000 to 50,000 Israelis will meet the official "migrant" definition for 2025 under the 12-month measurement standard, using statistical correlation data from earlier years. Official full-year emigration figures will not be available until early 2027.
The exodus has accelerated notably since October 2023, when the war began following the Hamas attack on October 7. According to reporting from Israel National News, the conflict has driven a marked shift in migration patterns, with more Israelis leaving than returning for the first time in the nation's history. In 2025 alone, approximately 70,000 Israelis left while only 19,000 returned, creating a net loss of 51,000 citizens.
The emigration reflects a particular concern among Israeli policymakers: a documented "brain drain" of highly educated professionals. Between 2023 and 2024, approximately 950 doctors emigrated from Israel, resulting in a net loss of over 500 physicians. Many departing doctors were established professionals over age 40, experienced practitioners rather than newly graduated physicians, according to findings from Ater's research team.
According to i24NEWS, the same period saw a net loss of 2,360 engineers fleeing the country. The loss of experienced technical and medical professionals threatens Israel's high-tech sector and healthcare system, both crucial to the nation's economy and security posture.
Prof. Ater emphasized that current emigration levels, while concerning, do not yet pose an immediate existential threat to Israel's resilience. However, he warned that the trajectory itself creates significant risk. "Even in 2025 we see very troubling numbers of Israelis leaving the country for a significant period. These figures do not yet pose an immediate danger to Israel's resilience, but if the trend continues without change, there is a very great risk of harm to Israel's security and economy," Ater stated.
Researchers highlighted that additional political, economic, or security shocks could trigger further acceleration in emigration rates. The study, based on data from Israel's Central Bureau of Statistics, notes that public discussion of emigration intensified following the end of 2022 amid the political crisis, public protests, and the October 7 war.
According to Times of Israel reporting, Ater has warned that unchecked emigration could lead Israel to replicate the experience of countries that suffered severe brain drain, including Lebanon, Venezuela, South Africa, and Argentina. He identified a potential change in political leadership in upcoming elections as crucial to reversing the trend.
The researchers note that the correlation between the three-month departure metric and the official 12-month migration standard stands at 0.96, allowing for reliable projections of long-term emigration from short-term data.
