Tuesday is International Children's Day, and the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) released a report in its honor. 

In 2006, 2.366 million children aged 17 and under lived in Israel - approximately a third of the entire population.  Among them are 1,633,100 million Jews (30% of the Jewish population), 39,000 Christians, and 570,000 Muslims plus 46,000 Druze (close to 50% of the Arab population).

The highest percentage of children in the country - 63% - is found in the hareidi-religious city of Beitar Illit, south of Jerusalem, followed by the Bedouin towns of Tel Sheva (61.7%) and Rahat (60.9). Bnei Brak and Beit Shemesh have approximately 50% children.  Tel Aviv is the city with the lowest rate, only 20%. 

In 1995, Jews comprised 74.3% of Israel's child population, while in 2006, it had dropped to 69%.  Arab children rose from 24.4% to 27.7%. 



The 30% rate of Jewish children amidst the total population compares favorably with 17% in Italy, 18% in Germany, 25% in the United States.  In Egypt, Jordan and Syria, however, the rate is 40-44%.

92% of the children live with both parents.



Just over 400,000 children are registered in welfare service offices - among them 65% Jews and 29% Arabs.



The highest percentage of children is found in the Jewish communities of Judea and Samaria - 45.5%, followed by 40.9% in Jerusalem. 



During 2005, more than 1,600 girls under aged 17 were married - 84% of them Arab. The Knesset is to vote on Wednesday on proposed legislation raising the minimum age for marriage from 17 to 18.  The Knesset will mark Children's Day day with a session on the topic of youth marriages, with the participation of MKs, rabbis, religious Moslem and Druze leaders, lawyers, and representatives of the police and various organizations.

<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" />Israel's Education Ministry is marking International Children's Day with special classes and seminars.  An open phone line is open with the National Students Council.  

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Most Popular Names

The 3rd-most popular boys' name in 2005, Itai, jumped to 1st place last year, having been bestowed upon 2.5% of the baby boys.  It was followed by Uri/Ori, Noam, Daniel, David, Ido, Moshe, Yosef, Yehonatan, Yonatan, Amit, and Ariel.

As in the past eight years, Noa was the most popular girls' name, and has become even more so.  It was given to 3.4% of the baby girls born in 2006, compared to 3% the year before.  The next-most popular names were Shira, Maya, Yael, Tamar, Sarah, Roni, Agam, Michal, Adi and Talya.



Among Moslems, the most common names were Muhammed and Shahad.