The number of “Israelis” leaving the entity has risen by approximately 50%, with the sharpest increase recorded among high-income earners, professionals in the high-tech and medical sectors, and individuals between the ages of 40 and 50, according to Maariv newspaper, which added the potential annual loss in tax revenue is estimated at 1.2 billion shekels.
Compared with the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of “Israelis” emigrating has increased by around 50%. However, the most significant change is not only in the number of those leaving, but also in who they are.
A new study conducted by the “Israeli” Tax Authority, focusing on “Israelis” who had lived in the country for at least three consecutive years before emigrating, found a sharp increase in the departure of high-income earners, workers in high-paying sectors, and individuals in their prime working years, resulting in substantial losses to state revenues.
Between 2015 and 2019, approximately 50,000 people left “Israel” each year, of whom an average of around 40,000 had lived in the country for at least three years before departing.
Following the decline during the COVID-19 period, the number of emigrants in this category rose to approximately 61,000 in 2023 and around 56,000 in 2024.
Employment sectors are also showing signs of change. The number of people leaving jobs in the high-tech sector increased by approximately 150% compared with 2015. The healthcare sector recorded an increase of more than 100%, including among physicians and other highly paid professionals. In contrast, lower-paying sectors such as education and manufacturing experienced much smaller changes.
Source: Maariv