As Israel is celebrating the 61st anniversary of its independence on Tuesday, the Central Bureau of Statistics reports that the Israeli population has risen to 7,411,000, from 7,282,000 12 months ago. In 1948, the population stood at 806,000.
Of the total, 5,593,000, or 75.5 percent of the population, are Jewish, and the Arab population is at 1,498,000, or 20.2 percent. Foreigners who are not citizens comprise the remaining 4.3 percent. Some 154,000 babies were born in the last year. In addition, 12,000 people immigrated to Israel in that time.
Seventy percent of the Jewish population was born in Israel, half being second-generation Israelis. In 1948, some 35 percent of Jews living in Israel were sabras.
