MK Kariv warns of emigration 'tsunami' as study shows nearly 270,000 people left Israel since 2023

A Tel Aviv University study shows 268,930 Israelis left the country for three or more months during 2023-2025, compared to 83,219 in 2013-2015. MK Gilad Kariv warned of an emigration 'tsunami,' citing the loss of doctors and engineers as a strategic threat. Researchers estimate 45,000-50,000 will leave for a year or more in 2025.

A new Tel Aviv University study, based on Central Bureau of Statistics data, reveals that nearly 270,000 Israelis left the country for three or more consecutive months between 2023 and 2025. The figures show 86,509 departures in 2023, 91,499 in 2024, and 90,922 in 2025, totaling 268,930. This compares to only 83,219 in the equivalent period of 2013-2015. MK Gilad Kariv, chair of the Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs Committee, warned on Monday of an emigration 'tsunami,' stating that many of those leaving are doctors, engineers, and academics. He called the trend 'a strategic threat to the future of Israel' and linked it to the government's conduct and the 'coup d'état.' Kariv urged Israelis abroad to return to vote in upcoming elections. The study's authors, Prof. Itai Ater, Prof. Netai Bergman, and Doron Zamir, estimate that between 45,000 and 50,000 citizens will have left in 2025 for a year or more. They warn that mass emigration could severely impact Israel's economy, which relies heavily on high-tech, advanced medical services, and academia.