May 2008

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Recent Aliyah Statistics and Trends

Director-General’s Report, May 2008

This report relates to all people arriving in Israel, including those already here who were changing their status, and Israelis who were processed by Aliyah Shlichim (such as returning minors, minors with Israeli citizenship, foreign-born citizens and returning residents)-henceforth "people arriving in Israel" unless otherwise stated. Israelis processed by Aliyah Shlichim were mainly from Western countries.

Between January-May 2008, 5,430 people arrived in Israel under the auspices of the Jewish Agency, a 12% decrease compared to the number that arrived during the same period last year. Among these 5,037 were immigrants (including those who willingly changed their status and those who have had citizenship conferred on them). The rest were Israelis who were processed by Aliyah Shlichim.

Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe

Between January-May 2008, 2,015 immigrants arrived from the FSU (making up 37% of the total number of immigrants) an 8% decrease compared to the same period last year. The majority of immigrants coming from the Former Soviet Union are from Russia. 960 immigrants arrived from Russia (a 6% decrease compared to the same period last year). 484 immigrants arrived from Ukraine (a 9% decrease compared to the same period last year).
Between January-May 2008, 44 immigrants arrived from Eastern Europe, 34% less than the number of immigrants that arrived during the same period last year (67).

Aliyah from the West

Between January-May 2008, 771 people arrived from Western Europe. Of these, 667 were immigrants and 104 were Israelis, compared to 947 that arrived during the same time period, a decrease of 19%. (a 20% decrease in immigrants, and a 10% decrease in Israelis).
448 immigrants arrived from France, a 30% decrease compared to the same period last year (637).
172 immigrants and Israelis arrived in January-May 2008 from Great Britain, compared to 147 that arrived during the same period last year, a 17% increase.
689 immigrants and Israelis arrived in January-May 2008 from North America, an increase of 17% compared to the same period last year (588).
498 immigrants and Israelis arrived from South America, a 29% decrease compared to the same period last year. The top two countries in South America with increases in immigration are Brazil (126) and Argentina (94).
105 immigrants arrived in January-May 2008 from South Africa, a 67% increase compared to the same period last year (63).
95 immigrants arrived in January-May 2008 from Oceania, a 106% increase compared to the same period last year (59).

Aliyah from Other Countries

1,115 immigrants arrived from Ethiopia between January-May 2008, a 24% decrease compared with the same period last year.

Immigrants in Israeli Absorption Centers

During May 2008 there were 11,287 immigrants living in initial absorption facilities.

4,744 were in absorption centers. 5% of them are participants in the Selah program, 9% are students, 6% are (other) youth, 15% are pre-aliyah registration, and 2% are participants of business programs. 2,552 of the immigrants in absorption centers (54%) are immigrants from Ethiopia.
An additional 6,468 immigrants from Ethiopia were living in additional absorption facilities run by the Jewish Agency for the specific purpose of absorbing the current wave of immigration from Ethiopia.

Charts

Immigrants and Israelis Handled by Aliyah Emissaries (PDF 58K*)

FSU Statistics (Excel 24K*)