Israel’s population density equals Belgium’s at 338 persons per sq.km., according to the Central Bureau of Statistics Statistical Abstract of Israel 2005, published last week.
The population density of Israel’s cities varies widely. Bnei Brak is Israel’s most crowded city, with 19,500 persons per sq.km.; followed by Bat Yam 15,900 persons per sq.km.; Givatayaim 14,980 persons per sq.km.; and Kiryat Motzkin 10,400 persons per sq.km. Towns in outlying areas had the fairly lowly population densities: Yeruham 227 persons per sq.km., and Omer 300 persons per sq.km. Among Israel’s four largest cities, Tel Aviv had the highest population density, at 7,170 persons per sq.km.; followed by Jerusalem 5,642 persons per sq.km.; Haifa 4,211 persons per sq.km.; and Rishon LeZion 3,700 persons per sq.km.
The population of the Jerusalem district is 832,000, up 2.4%, compared with 2004. The population of the Central district was 1.62 million (up 2.3%); Tel Aviv district 1.18 million (up 1.1%); the Northern district 1.12 million (up 1.6%); Haifa district 852,000 (up 0.7%); and the Southern district 985,000 (up 1.7%).
The fastest growth rate was recorded for the Jewish population in Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip (before disengagement), which rose by 5.2% since the end of 2004 to 244,000. The 7,500 residents of Gush Katif have since been evacuated back to Israel.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on October 2, 2005