The Jewish majority in Israel has dropped 1.8% since the year 2000. In 2005, Jews made up 76% of the State of Israel, compared to 77.8% in 2000.
At the end of 2005, according to the CBS, there were 6,990,700 citizens in Israel –5,313,800 Jewish and 1,377,100 Arab (1,140,600 of them Muslims).
Meanwhile, Israel’s Muslim population has risen 1.1%, from 15.2% to 16.3% during the same period.
The percentage of those claiming no religious affiliation has also risen – and is attributed to the influx of relatives of Jews from the former Soviet Union.
Also examined in the statistical survey were age trends according to religion. The average Jewish age is 30.6 and the average Muslim age is 18.6. Those 65 and older made up 11.8% of the Jewish population, and just 2.8 % of the Muslim total. Also, whereas 25.6% of Jews are below the age of 15, 42.6% of Muslims are.
The CBS reported that 21,000 people made Aliyah (Jewish immigration to Israel) in 2005.