Israel's population has reached 7,797,400, according to the just-released 2010 census. The population comprised 5,874,300 Jews (75.4 percent), 1.57 million Muslims (20.5%), 323,000 Christians (4.1%), and about 217,000 others. According to the census, the population growth rate was similar to 2009s, at 1.9%. The Jewish population grew at a rate of 1.7% while the Arab population grew at a rate of 2.5%. Israel has a relatively young population in comparison to the Western world. About 28% of the population is aged under 14, compared to an average of 17% in Western countries. And while in the West 15% of the population is over age 65, in Israel, that sector comprises only 10%. The census also found that for every 1,000 women in Israel, there are only 979 men. It found that men are in the majority until age 30, when the ratio flips and the female population jumps ahead. Among those age 75 and above, there are only 684 men for every 1,000 women. Population density in Israel on average is 334 people per square kilometer (865 people per square mile). The highest population density is in Tel Aviv, with 7,470 residents per square kilometer (19,347 people per square mile). The least-dense areas are in the north, where there are 286 people per square kilometer (740 people per square mile), and in the south, with 78 people per square kilometer (202 people per square mile). Nearly 255,000 people changed their addresses in 2010. With the exception of Petach Tikva, which absorbed 1,900 new residents, every major city in Israel reported a loss of its citizens, with Jerusalem leading the pack with 7,300 residents packing up and moving out. Meanwhile, the Israel Airports Authority estimates that more than 50,000 travelers will go through Ben-Gurion International Airport every day during the days leading up to the Jewish New Year (Rosh Hashanah) and the harvest festival of Sukkot. More than 300,000 travelers are set to take off during the holidays. Among the travelers, 22,000 Hasidic Jews will pack more than 60 flights to the Ukraine for their traditional visit to the Ukrainian city of Uman, where they celebrate Rosh Hashanah at their spiritual leader Rabbi Nachman's grave. The most sought-after locations for vacations these High Holy Days are Greece, the U.S., Ukraine, Germany, Italy, France, Austria and Russia. Israel is also enjoying a local boom in tourism, with cabins and hotels in the scenic north booked to capacity. More than half a million visitors are expected to visit the Western Wall in Jerusalem before Sukkot ends, three weeks from now. Meanwhile, President Shimon Peres hosted a bar mitzvah celebration for 55 children whose parents were killed serving in the Israel Defense Forces. Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz was present at the ceremony. Your parents fought with courage, fell with courage and saved lives, Peres said. Israel embraces you and blesses you on your newly entrusted observance of commandments. Let us pray together that Israel will not know another war.
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