There are approximately 2.25 million families in Israel with an average of 3.69 people per family, according to data the Central Bureau of Statistics published ahead of the annual Family Day, which begins on Thursday evening and ends on Friday evening.
Known as Yom HaMishpacha in Hebrew, the national holiday honoring the family unit takes place every year on the last day of the Hebrew month of Shevat. Until the 1990s, it was known as Mother’s Day (Yom HaEm).
The CBS data, which is for the year 2022, shows that about half of families in Israel consist of a pair of parents and at least one child up to the age of 17.
Arab families larger, except for the Orthodox
The proportion of families with two parents and children up to the age of 17 is higher among the Arab population (around 59%) than in the Jewish population (about 45%).
In 2022 there was an average of 3.58 people in Jewish families on average compared to 4.3 people in Arab families.
Among Jews, secular families average 3.18 members, religious families average 3.86, very religious families 4.79, and among the ultra-Orthodox, that figure rises to 5.33.
Orthodox cities dominate
Among cities with more than 100,000 residents, Beit Shemesh has the highest proportion of families with couples and children up to 17 at 68%, compared to about 4.75 in the national average.
The highest average number of people per family is found in Beit Shemesh (4.96), Bnei Brak (4.73) and Jerusalem (4.25), compared to the national average of 3.69.
Ashkelon is home to the highest proportion of single-parent families with children up to 17 at 9.5%, versus the national average of 6%. Tel Aviv-Jaffa is home to the highest proportion of couples without children at 41%, compared to the national average of 26%.
Nationally, 29% of Jewish families and 12% of Arab families are childless.
