Ashqelon: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Ashqelon: People in Ashqelon who earned wages had an average income from employment of NIS 10,122 a month in 2022, and all income earners together averaged NIS 10,427 a month, according to the CBS profile (Israeli shekels, before tax). That is 5th lowest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
- Health in Ashqelon: Life expectancy at birth in Ashqelon was 82.3 years (both sexes, 2019 to 2023), according to the CBS local authority profile. That is 4th lowest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
- Education in Ashqelon: Ashqelon had 60 schools, 1,093 classes and 27,765 pupils in the 2022/23 school year, according to the CBS profile (15,994 pupils in primary and 11,771 in secondary education). That is 5th fewest pupils of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
- Poverty and living standards in Ashqelon: 5,066 residents of Ashqelon were recorded as income support (guaranteed minimum income) recipients in the welfare section of the CBS 2023 profile: 31.3 for every 1,000 residents. That is 2nd highest share of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
- Government budget and revenue in Ashqelon: The municipality of Ashqelon spent NIS 1.8 billion in 2023 across its regular and development budgets, and received NIS 1.8 billion, according to the CBS profile based on audited accounts. That is 6th smallest budget of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
What is the population of Ashqelon?
Ashqelon had 161,745 residents at the end of 2023, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. This is a provisional estimate built on the April 2022 census, for the municipality of Ashqelon. That is 5th lowest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyHow much has the population of Ashqelon grown since 2008?
The 2022 Census estimate for Ashqelon was about 152,370 people, +34.5% on the 2008 Census.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyHow fast is the population of Ashqelon growing?
The population of Ashqelon grew by 4.0% in 2023 compared with the previous year, according to the CBS local authority profile. That is 2nd highest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyWhat is the population density of Ashqelon?
Ashqelon has 3,566 residents per square kilometre (52.3 square kilometres in area), according to the CBS profile for 2023. That is 3rd least densely populated of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyWhat is the median age in Ashqelon?
The median age in Ashqelon was 35 at the 2022 Census (national figure 30); 30.0% of residents were aged 0 to 19 and 16.1% were 65 or over (nationally 12.4%). That is joint 9th oldest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyWhat is the birth rate in Ashqelon?
2,290 babies were born alive to residents of Ashqelon in 2023, and the total fertility rate was 2.33 children per woman, according to the CBS profile. That is 9th highest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyAre people moving into or out of Ashqelon?
Net migration (people arriving minus people leaving, including from abroad) gave Ashqelon a net gain of 4,969 residents in 2023 (balance +4,969), the CBS profile reports. That is 2nd largest gain of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyHow big is the average household in Ashqelon?
An average of 2.8 people lived in each of the 52,380 households in Ashqelon at the 2022 Census (national average 3.0). That is joint 6th largest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyWho runs Ashqelon?
In Israel, cities and towns are run by municipalities: Mayor and council directly elected for five years; council by closed-list proportional representation. Education buildings, welfare, sanitation, local roads, planning and property tax (arnona).
How local power works in Israel
Cities of a similar size in Israel
- Jerusalem 987,900
- Tel Aviv-Yafo 469,425
- Haifa 298,311
- Petah Tiqwa 267,196
- Rishon Leziyyon 258,681
- Netanya 233,485
- Ashdod 229,173
- Bene Beraq 223,786
- Be'er Sheva 218,995
- Holon 192,980
- Ramat Gan 167,795
- Bet Shemesh 167,318
- Rehovot 153,416
- Bat Yam 131,099
- Herzliyya 108,650
- Hadera 106,767
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Sources
- Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel): Selected data, by localities and statistical areas - the 2022 Census, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 881f2c062565…)
- Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel): Local Authorities in Israel 2023: municipality profile, Ashqelon (Publication 1987), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 25fc83260a4c…)
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