A new study published in The Lancet shows a global drop in fertility rates, predicting a worldwide population decline starting in 2090. But Israel is bucking this trend, standing out with a higher birth rate compared to most countries, including those in the West.
The study explains that to keep a population steady, the average number of children each woman needs to have is about 2.1. Globally, fertility rates have been on the decline for the last 75 years, from 4.84 children per woman in 1950 to 2.32 in 2021, and are expected to fall even further.
However, Israel's story is different. While its birth rates are also slowly decreasing, the country's current fertility rate is 2.89 children per woman, significantly higher than the average in Western countries. Projections say that by 2100, Israel's rate might dip slightly but will still be around 2.09, keeping its population growth steady into the 22nd century. This makes Israel one of the top countries in terms of birth rate.
Interestingly, this high birth rate in Israel isn't just among the ultra-Orthodox community; it's also rising among the non-Orthodox Jewish population, contrary to global patterns. Professor Manuel Trachtenberg from the Institute for National Security Studies in Tel Aviv points out this surprising trend, highlighting it as a notable exception to worldwide demographic shifts.
