Israel's population to stand at 11.4 million by end of 2035

The population of Israel is expected to reach 11.4 million people by the end of 2035, according to an updated forecast published by the Central Bureau of Statistics. According to a more optimistic estimation, it is possible that the population could reach 12.4 million people.

• 73% of the entire population will be Jewish by 2035

• 23% of the entire population will be Arab by 2035

• 1.7 million people will be 65 and older by 2035

• 84.8 will be the average life expectancy for Jewish men

• 89.5 will be the average life expectancy for Jewish women

With that, the population's yearly average rate of growth is expected to plateau at a mere 1.4%. To compare, the population of Israel is growing today at a yearly average rate of 1.9%, with the population standing at 8.02 million.

By the end of 2035, the Jewish population and other non-Jewish residents who made aliyah through the Law of Return will stand at 8.8 million. The Arab population will be 2.6 million -- 23% of the entire population (nearly one in every four Israelis). There will be 8.3 million Jews by the end of 2035 (73% of the entire population); the Muslim population will be 2.3 million (20% of the population); the Druze will count for 1.6% of the population with 185,000 people; and Christian Arabs will account for 1.3% with 152,000 people.

The population will also continue to get older. The population of those 65 years of age and older is expected to grow more than any other age group. By the end of 2035 this age group will stand at 1.7 million people -- a growth of 117% from the 763,000 in the same age group at the end of 2010. They will comprise 14.6% of the population, a sharp increase from the current 10%.

Additionally, for every pensioner there will be only three workers, in contrast to the current situation whereby there are five workers for every pensioner. In other words, fewer workers will need to provide for more pensioners.

The forecast predicts that the total fertility rate for Israeli women will gradually drop but still remain at a high level, this in comparison to the Western world and to neighboring countries. The total fertility rate for Israeli women will reach 2.94 births per woman in 2015 and drop to 2.75 births per woman in 2035.

Another intriguing figure published by the CBS: Israeli men will live 84.8 years on average, compared to the current average of 79.7 years. Jewish women will live to an average age of 89.5, compared to the current 83.3 years. Arab men are expected to live to the average age of 81.6 years, while Arab women will live an average of 84.8 years.

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