A total of 28,099 new immigrants arrived in Israel in 2018, an increase of 6.6% compared to 2017, according to statistics published Tuesday by the Central Bureau of Statistics.
The data also took a wider look at aliyah since the state was established in 1948: Some 3.3 million new immigrants have moved to Israel. Of those 3.3 million, 47.3% have arrived since 1990.
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How do the numbers break down? Over two-thirds (67.7%) of the new olim who arrived in Israel in 2018 came from the former Soviet Union, primarily Russia and Ukraine. Another 9% arrived from the US, and 8.7% were from France.
The number of new immigrants from Russia in 2018 stood at 10,460, a jump compared to the 7,135 who arrived from Russia in 2017. Despite rising anti-Semitism throughout Europe, aliyah from France was down, with 2,415 French olim arriving in 2018, 23.5% fewer than in 2017. Aliyah from France peaked in 2015, when 6,628 new immigrants from France moved to Israel.
The number of new olim from Asia in 2018 stood at 1,429, an increase of 12.3% from the 1,237 new immigrants from Asia who moved to Israel in 2017. A total of 365 new immigrants arrived in Israel from Africa in 2018, 14.1% fewer than the 425 African olim who came in 2017.
Most of the new olim who arrived in 2018 opted to settle in cities with populations of 100,000 or more: 11.1% settled in Tel Aviv; 9.5% in Jerusalem; 8.5% in Netanya; and 7.9% in Haifa. Another 5% moved to Bat Yam, located just south of Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and 5% made their homes in Ashdod.
Tel Aviv was the top pick for olim from Russia and France, while Jerusalem was preferred by olim from the US.
