Bet Shemesh: population and official figures

In depth

• Economy, jobs and prices in Bet Shemesh: People in Bet Shemesh who earned wages had an average income from employment of NIS 8,508 a month in 2022, and all income earners together averaged NIS 8,760 a month, according to the CBS profile (Israeli shekels, before tax). That is 2nd lowest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
• Health in Bet Shemesh: Life expectancy at birth in Bet Shemesh was 82.7 years (both sexes, 2019 to 2023), according to the CBS local authority profile. That is joint 5th lowest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
• Education in Bet Shemesh: Bet Shemesh had 170 schools, 1,636 classes and 36,925 pupils in the 2022/23 school year, according to the CBS profile (25,704 pupils in primary and 11,221 in secondary education). That is 9th most pupils of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
• Poverty and living standards in Bet Shemesh: 3,062 residents of Bet Shemesh were recorded as income support (guaranteed minimum income) recipients in the welfare section of the CBS 2023 profile: 18.3 for every 1,000 residents. That is 8th highest share of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
• Government budget and revenue in Bet Shemesh: The municipality of Bet Shemesh spent NIS 1.3 billion in 2023 across its regular and development budgets, and received NIS 1.2 billion, according to the CBS profile based on audited accounts. That is 2nd smallest budget of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.

Who runs Bet Shemesh?

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
• Ashqelon 161,745
• 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, Bet Shemesh (Publication 1987), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 fec3e6da1eee…)

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