Immigration From U.S. and Europe to Israel Surges in 2025 Despite Overall Decline in Arrivals

by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief

(Worthy News) – Israel absorbed approximately 21,900 new immigrants in 2025, marking a sharp decline of about one-third from the previous year, according to data released Monday by the Immigration and Absorption Ministry. The drop was driven largely by a steep fall in arrivals from Russia, following the surge that accompanied Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Despite the overall decline, immigration from Western countries rose significantly, fueled by rising antisemitism and violent attacks targeting Jewish communities abroad. Ministry figures show that 13,600 immigrants arrived from non-Russian countries in 2025, a 23.6 percent increase from 2024 and an 81 percent jump compared to 2023. Officials cited deadly antisemitic attacks in recent months, including assaults on Jewish targets in the United Kingdom and Australia, as contributing factors.

Russia remained the largest single source country, with about 8,300 immigrants in 2025, though that figure represented a 57 percent drop from 2024 and a fraction of the 43,500 arrivals recorded in 2022. By contrast, immigration from the United States climbed to roughly 3,500 people, up 5 percent year over year and 30 percent compared to 2023. France saw one of the largest increases, with approximately 3,300 immigrants, a 45 percent rise, while arrivals from the United Kingdom increased 19 percent to 840. Smaller but notable numbers came from Canada, South Africa, and Australia.

According to data from Nefesh B’Nefesh, North American immigration reached about 4,150 people in 2025, one of the highest totals in the organization’s 23-year history. The group said many of the new arrivals are young adults, with about one-third of all immigrants aged 18 to 35.

At the same time, Israel continued to experience a negative migration balance. The Central Bureau of Statistics reported that more than 69,000 Israelis left the country in 2025 amid the ongoing war triggered by the Hamas-led massacre on October 7, 2023, and broader political tensions. Although tens of thousands of Israelis returned from abroad and thousands more arrived through family reunification, the country still recorded a net migration loss for the second consecutive year.

Demographers say the contrasting trends reflect a complex reality: while Israel remains a destination for Jews fleeing rising antisemitism, internal security concerns and political uncertainty are driving more residents to leave. The Immigration and Absorption Ministry has launched new initiatives to prepare for potential future waves of immigration, including employment partnerships, tax incentives, and emergency readiness drills, as officials warn that global antisemitism could accelerate aliyah in the coming years.

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