Immigration to Israel Drops Sharply in 2025

Immigration to Israel experienced a significant decline in 2025, with total aliya falling by a third compared to previous years. This decrease was primarily driven by a sharp reduction in arrivals from Russia, which saw immigration numbers halve during the period.

Despite the overall drop, a contrasting trend emerged regarding immigration from Western nations. Arrivals from France rose by 45%, and immigration from North America jumped by 13%. Analysts suggest these surges are likely linked to rising levels of antisemitism in those regions. The shifting demographics highlight a complex landscape for Israeli immigration, characterized by a decline from traditional sources in the East and a significant increase from the West.

Immigration to Israel, known as aliya, saw a sharp decrease in 2025, dropping by a third overall. This represents a substantial shift in the volume of new arrivals entering the country.

The decline was heavily influenced by changes in specific regions. The data indicates a significant contraction in the number of immigrants coming from Eastern Europe and other non-Western nations.

The most significant factor contributing to the overall drop in aliya was the reduction in arrivals from Russia. Immigration from Russia fell by 50%, effectively halving the number of new immigrants from this source.

This sharp decline in Russian immigration played a decisive role in the total reduction of immigration figures for the year, offsetting gains made from other regions.

In contrast to the decline from Russia, immigration from Western nations surged significantly in 2025. Arrivals from France increased by 45%, marking a substantial rise in French citizens moving to Israel.

Similarly, immigration from North America rose by 13%. These increases occurred despite the overall downward trend in total immigration numbers.

The report attributes these surges to skyrocketing antisemitism in the respective Western countries. The rising hostility appears to be a driving factor for Jewish populations in France and North America to seek residence in Israel.

The immigration landscape for Israel in 2025 presents a tale of two trends. While the total number of immigrants decreased by a third, driven largely by a 50% drop from Russia, there was a concurrent and robust increase from Western countries like France and North America.

These shifts suggest that while traditional immigration streams are slowing, geopolitical and social pressures in the West are creating new waves of aliya. The data underscores the dynamic nature of global migration patterns and their sensitivity to social climates.