With a difference of five residents: Netanya overtook Rishon LeZion and took fourth place
Data from the Population and Immigration Authority shows that Netanya has surpassed Rishon LeZion in the number of registered residents. Experts note that the difference in demographic profiles requires distinct approaches to municipal budget planning.
Netanya has 289,121 residents, while Rishon LeZion has 289,116. For the first time, Netanya has ranked above its peer, taking fourth place among the country's largest localities. Jerusalem (1.12 million), Tel Aviv-Yafo (601,000), and Haifa (344,000) remain the top three.
The data is derived from the Population and Immigration Authority registry. It is important to note that this includes Israelis who reside permanently abroad but remain registered at their last address in Israel. Consequently, these figures are higher than the estimates published by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), which counts only actual residents. However, the comparison between the cities remains valid as the methodology is identical for both.
Demographic Differences
The population structure in these two cities differs significantly:
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Netanya: The share of children and teenagers up to age 18 stands at 25.0%, while those aged 65 and over account for 22.0%. The city relies on both ends of the age spectrum.
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Rishon LeZion: Leads in the working-age population. In the 19 to 45 age group, it has 96,584 residents compared to 90,845 in Netanya, a gap of 5,739 in its favor.
This difference is not merely semantic; it translates directly into municipal needs. Netanya requires more classrooms, kindergartens, and welfare services for the elderly, whereas Rishon LeZion focuses on the labor market, transportation, and housing. Municipalities planning five-year budgets must prepare accordingly.
The National Picture
The broader data highlights the centralization of Israel's population, with 35.2% of residents living in just ten localities. Meanwhile, the median size of a locality in Israel is only 934 residents.
The national age structure is also distinct: 31.0% of the population is under 19, while only 14.9% is aged 65 and over. In some cities, these gaps are extreme; for instance, in Modi'in Illit, 59.2% of residents are children and teenagers, while in Bat Yam, 27.9% of residents are aged 65 and over.
The total number of records in the Population Authority file stands at 10,996,849, compared to the CBS estimate of about 10.3 million. This gap of approximately 700,000 people is due to differences in definition rather than error.
