IDI analysis shows National-Religious men driving shift in IDF reserve duty as overall numbers fall

An IDI analysis of CBS data from 2023-2025 reveals that National-Religious men are increasingly over-represented in IDF reserve service relative to their population share, while overall reserve participation fell year by year across all groups. Secular men decreased the most but still form the largest monthly cohort. Haredi participation remained negligible at 0.3%. The analysis also breaks down service by gender and economic sector.

The Israel Democracy Institute (IDI) released an analysis of IDF reserve service by religious identification during the Israel-Hamas War, based on Central Bureau of Statistics Labor Force Survey data from 2023 to 2025. The analysis, conducted by Dr. Ariel Finkelstein and Roe Kenneth Portal, found that National-Religious men are increasingly over-represented in reserve service relative to their population share. While 31% of National-Religious men serve overall, they make up only 15% of Israel's demographic makeup. By 2025, 4.1% of National-Religious men served in an average month, compared to 2.6% of traditional men, 1.7% of secular men, and 0.3% of Haredim. This marks a sharp decline from the immediate post-October 7 period, when 15.2% of National-Religious men served monthly. Secular men decreased the most of any group but still form the largest monthly cohort. Haredi participation remained negligible at 0.3%. Among women, secular and traditional women were overrepresented relative to their populations, while religious women served at a lower proportion. The high-tech sector initially had the highest percentage of workers leaving for reserve duty at 16.5% in 2023, but by 2025 it had the lowest rate at 2.3%. The analysis also notes that religious men in rural areas were more likely to serve than those in cities.