- 83Cities83 localities hold formal city (ir) status, including the five Judea & Samaria cities — the newest, Giv'at Ze'ev, became a city in July 2026.
- 259Local authorities259 local authorities: 83 municipalities, 122 local councils, and 54 regional councils. Two of the local councils, Neot Hovav and Migdal Tefen, are industrial councils without residents.
- 6+1DistrictsSix administrative districts (mehoz) plus the Judea & Samaria area; the districts are administered by Interior Ministry district commissioners.
- 10.305MPopulationCBS estimates 10.305 million residents for Rosh Hashanah 5787 in September 2026, including about 304,000 foreign residents. The estimate is provisional.
- 91.6%Urban shareWorld Bank / UN estimates put 91.6% of Israel's population in urban areas in 2025.
- 22,072Total area (km²)CBS reports 22,072 km²: 98% land and 2% inland water, in its September 2026 release.
City populations
Provisional CBS resident estimates for the end of July 2026, rounded to the nearest thousand.
- JerusalemJerusalem district1.07M
- Tel Aviv-YafoTel Aviv district497K
- HaifaHaifa district294K
- Petah TikvaCentral district272K
- Rishon LeZionCentral district262K
- Bnei BrakTel Aviv district241K
- NetanyaCentral district238K
- AshdodSouthern district230K
- Beer ShevaSouthern district225K
- Beit ShemeshJerusalem district192K
- HolonTel Aviv district190K
- AshkelonSouthern district176K
- Ramat GanTel Aviv district173K
- RehovotCentral district155K
- Bat YamTel Aviv district129K
- HerzliyaTel Aviv district113K
- Modi'inCentral district103K
- Kfar SabaCentral district99K
- NazarethNorthern district75K
- EilatSouthern district58K
- TiberiasNorthern district53K
Source: CBS provisional locality estimates for the end of July 2026. Figures rounded to the nearest thousand.
Population by district
Where Israelis live across the six administrative districts plus the Judea & Samaria area. Bars scaled to the largest district (Central).
- Central district2.4M · 24%
- Tel Aviv district1.5M · 15%
- Northern district1.6M · 16%
- Southern district1.5M · 15%
- Jerusalem district1.3M · 13%
- Haifa district1.2M · 12%
- Judea & Samaria area516K · 5%
Source: CBS Statistical Abstract 2025, Table 2.12; population at 31 December 2024, including foreigners. Values in thousands.
SourcesIsrael Central Bureau of StatisticsOpens in a new tab.Local authority types
Israeli local government runs through 259 authorities: cities, local councils, and regional councils. Two of the local councils govern industrial zones.
- 83
Cities (Iriya)
City status is conferred by the Interior Ministry. Each municipality is run by an elected mayor and council.
- 122
Local councils (Mo'atza Mekomit)
Local authorities that are not municipalities or regional councils, including Efrat, Yeruham, Zikhron Ya'akov, Mevaseret Zion, and Omer. The count includes the two industrial councils.
- 54
Regional councils (Mo'atza Ezorit)
Cover rural areas, kibbutzim, moshavim, and small communities grouped by region. Eshkol, Misgav, Gush Etzion, the Jordan Valley, and others.
- 2
Industrial local councils
Two of the 122 local councils, Neot Hovav and Migdal Tefen, govern industrial zones rather than residential towns.
From the Dead Sea to the hills of Jerusalem
CBS average elevations for 21 major cities plus Neve Zohar on the Dead Sea shore; each figure describes the whole locality, not every neighborhood, hilltop, or shoreline.
- Jerusalem715 m
- Nazareth347 m
- Beit Shemesh302 m
- Beer Sheva291 m
- Modi'in209 m
- Eilat163 m
- Haifa96 m
- Kfar Saba52 m
- Rehovot51 m
- Rishon LeZion41 m
- Herzliya38 m
- Ramat Gan37 m
- Ashkelon36 m
- Holon33 m
- Petah Tikva31 m
- Netanya28 m
- Bnei Brak26 m
- Ashdod22 m
- Bat Yam22 m
- Tel Aviv-Yafo17 m
- Tiberias8 m
- Neve Zohar (Dead Sea)-371 m
Source: CBS bycode2024 locality workbook, average elevation in metres above sea level.
SourcesIsrael Central Bureau of StatisticsOpens in a new tab.