How many arabs live in Israel
Executive summary
Recent demographic reporting places the number of Arabs in Israel (excluding most West Bank and Gaza residents) at roughly 2.04–2.13 million people, about 21–21.5% of Israel’s population (CBS-derived reporting cited by the Israel Democracy Institute and Jewish Virtual Library/The Jerusalem Post) [1] [2] [3]. Estimates vary slightly by source and date; earlier 2022 data show ~2.04 million (21.1%), while Rosh Hashanah 2025 reporting lists ~2.13 million (21.5%) [1] [2] [3].
1. What the headline numbers mean: who’s being counted
When sources say “Arabs in Israel” they generally mean Arab citizens of the State of Israel and Arab residents inside Israel’s pre‑1967 borders (sometimes including East Jerusalem residents who hold Israeli residency but not citizenship); they do not usually include the much larger Palestinian populations of the West Bank and Gaza except where explicitly noted [4] [5]. The Israel Democracy Institute cites Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) data placing the Arab population at about 2.04 million at end‑2022 (21.1% of the country), while Jewish Virtual Library and The Jerusalem Post reported about 2.13 million (21.5%) at Rosh Hashanah 2025 — reflecting normal year‑to‑year growth and differing cut‑offs/dates [1] [2] [3].
2. Small differences, big implications: timing and definitions
Differences between 2.04 million and 2.13 million arise from timing (end‑2022 versus Rosh Hashanah 2025) and how sources include groups such as East Jerusalem Palestinians who have residency, non‑Arab “others,” or temporary migrants [4] [1] [2]. Statistical tallies change with births, deaths, migration, and methodological choices by the CBS and by secondary outlets that summarize CBS releases [4] [1].
3. Longer trends: growth rates and fertility
Historically Arab population growth rates in Israel have been higher than Jewish growth rates, although the gap has narrowed. Sources note that Arab growth slowed from about 3.8% in 1999 to lower rates in later years; more recent reporting cites an Arab growth rate around 2.2% in earlier years and highlights fertility declines in the Arab sector [4]. A 2025 analysis cited by The Ettinger Report suggests Jewish births have grown substantially since 1995 while Arab births rose more modestly — a contested narrative highlighted by groups with different agendas [6].
4. Competing narratives and agendas in the reporting
Different outlets emphasize different interpretations. Centered analysts and mainstream institutions such as the Israel Democracy Institute and the Council on Foreign Relations present the Arab share as roughly one‑fifth of the population with policy implications about inequality and social integration [1] [7]. Pro‑Israel commentators and some demographic analysts emphasize recent increases in Jewish births and argue that fears of an “Arab demographic time bomb” are exaggerated [6] [8]. Opposing voices note systemic discrimination and social tensions affecting Arab citizens’ status and opportunities [7]. Each framing reflects implicit political priorities — whether about citizenship, security, or social justice — so readers should note the source’s orientation when interpreting claims [6] [7] [8].
5. What sources do and don’t say about Palestinians in the territories
Available sources specifically separate Arabs inside Israel from Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza: the commonly cited 2.04–2.13 million figure is for Arabs within Israel’s defined population count and does not equate to total Palestinians living in the occupied territories [4] [1]. Some outlets do discuss combined-area scenarios (Israel plus West Bank) and make projections about future majorities, but those combine distinct populations and rely on different assumptions — and should not be conflated with the figure for Arab citizens of Israel alone [9] [10].
6. Practical takeaway and where to look next
If you need a single, contemporary figure for “Arabs living in Israel” use CBS‑based summaries: roughly 2.04 million at end‑2022 (~21.1%) and about 2.13 million (21.5%) reported at Rosh Hashanah 2025 in secondary sources — both reflect Arabs who are citizens or residents within Israel’s population count [1] [2] [3]. For more precision, consult the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics releases (cited by Statista and the Israel Democracy Institute) for the exact date‑stamped breakout and methodology underlying each tally [11] [1].
Limitations: this briefing uses only the provided sources and does not add outside data; it does not address disputed counts for the West Bank/Gaza except to note that those populations are usually counted separately and are not included in the ~2.0–2.13 million figures cited above [4] [1] [2].