Despite everything, there's no place like home: 88 percent of Israelis are generally happy with their lives and 60% are satisfied with their financial situation, according to a Central Bureau of Statistics report for the years 2010-2011.
According to the figures, for the past decade there has been an increase in the levels of Israelis' contentment -- in 2002, 83% of Israelis said they were happy with their lives. It appears that Israelis are also optimistic about their future: 52% believe they will be happier in the coming years, while 45% feel that their economic situation will improve.
Meanwhile, the number of Israelis born in Israel continues to rise and in 2012 already hit the six million person mark, which accounts for 74% of the entire population.
For the sake of comparison, in 1948 only 35% of the population was born in Israel. The native "second generation" Israelis, with fathers also born in Israel, comprise one third of the population.
Altogether, as of Rosh Hashana 2013, Israel's population stands at 8,086,600 people -- comprised of 6,066,300 Jews (75.1% of the population), and 1,669,800 Arabs (20.6% of the population).
It also appears that a happier life leads to a longer life. The statistics show that life expectancy for Israelis is higher than the average in OECD states.
As of 2012, an Israeli man lives on average to the age of 79.9, compared to 79.7 in 2010. Israeli women live on average until the age of 83.6, compared to 83.5 in 2010. Since 1980, life expectancy in Israel has increased by 8.7 years for men and 8.9 years for women.
The improvement in the financial situation and life expectancy also means that people are postponing marriage. Of men aged 25-29, 63.9% are still single, as opposed to 54% of the men in 2000 from the same age group. Of women aged 25-29, 46.1% are single, compared to 38.1% in 2000. With that, bachelor life in Israel doesnt last as long as in some other European countries and in the United States: 92% of those aged 40-44, men and women, have been married at least once.
These positive figures, however, have seemingly not yet permeated the consciousness of Jews in the Diaspora, because in 2012 only 16,558 new immigrants moved to Israel -- a 2% drop from 2011.
The social survey conducted by the CBS shows that 85% of new immigrants are happy with life in Israel and are certain they will stay forever. However, 12% of new immigrants said they were not sure they would stay, explaining that their financial situation would be the deciding factor. Among those who most recently immigrated, 3% already feel they will eventually leave Israel.
כתבת הוותיקן חושפת: זה הכינוי שהעניק לי האפיפיור - "לא בטוח שבתור מחמאה"
פלוס בית ורכב: הסכום המטורף שמציעה העיירה הנידחת למי שיסכים לעבוד בה כרופא
פרסומת | הקרב הבא של צה"ל: כדור הארץ
וירג'יניה ג'ופרה, מהקולות הבולטים במאבק נגד ג'פרי אפשטיין, שמה קץ לחייה
הביקור הראשון, סערת הכאפייה ועדות החבר: "רצה לבקר בניר עוז" | פרנציסקוס וישראל