Rishon Leziyyon: population and official figures
In depth
- Economy, jobs and prices in Rishon Leziyyon: People in Rishon Leziyyon who earned wages had an average income from employment of NIS 13,072 a month in 2022, and all income earners together averaged NIS 13,321 a month, according to the CBS profile (Israeli shekels, before tax). That is 6th highest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
- Health in Rishon Leziyyon: Life expectancy at birth in Rishon Leziyyon was 84.4 years (both sexes, 2019 to 2023), according to the CBS local authority profile. That is joint 3rd highest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
- Education in Rishon Leziyyon: Rishon Leziyyon had 88 schools, 1,542 classes and 39,363 pupils in the 2022/23 school year, according to the CBS profile (21,014 pupils in primary and 18,349 in secondary education). That is 8th most pupils of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
- Poverty and living standards in Rishon Leziyyon: 1,993 residents of Rishon Leziyyon were recorded as income support (guaranteed minimum income) recipients in the welfare section of the CBS 2023 profile: 7.7 for every 1,000 residents. That is 3rd lowest share of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
- Government budget and revenue in Rishon Leziyyon: The municipality of Rishon Leziyyon spent NIS 3.8 billion in 2023 across its regular and development budgets, and received NIS 3.5 billion, according to the CBS profile based on audited accounts. That is 4th largest budget of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
What is the population of Rishon Leziyyon?
Rishon Leziyyon had 258,681 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 Rishon Leziyyon. That is 5th highest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyHow much has the population of Rishon Leziyyon grown since 2008?
The 2022 Census estimate for Rishon Leziyyon was about 252,410 people, +9.0% on the 2008 Census.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyHow fast is the population of Rishon Leziyyon growing?
The population of Rishon Leziyyon grew by 1.3% in 2023 compared with the previous year, according to the CBS local authority profile. That is joint 4th highest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyWhat is the population density of Rishon Leziyyon?
Rishon Leziyyon has 4,365 residents per square kilometre (61.9 square kilometres in area), according to the CBS profile for 2023. That is 4th 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 Rishon Leziyyon?
The median age in Rishon Leziyyon was 39 at the 2022 Census (national figure 30); 25.7% of residents were aged 0 to 19 and 19.0% were 65 or over (nationally 12.4%). That is 2nd oldest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyWhat is the birth rate in Rishon Leziyyon?
3,279 babies were born alive to residents of Rishon Leziyyon in 2023, and the total fertility rate was 2.12 children per woman, according to the CBS profile. That is 7th lowest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyAre people moving into or out of Rishon Leziyyon?
Net migration (people arriving minus people leaving, including from abroad) gave Rishon Leziyyon a net gain of 1,189 residents in 2023 (balance +1,189), the CBS profile reports. That is 5th 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 Rishon Leziyyon?
An average of 2.6 people lived in each of the 92,930 households in Rishon Leziyyon at the 2022 Census (national average 3.0). That is joint 6th smallest of 17 cities in Israel covered on this site.
Source: Central Bureau of Statistics (Israel) · saved copyWho runs Rishon Leziyyon?
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
- 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
- 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, Rishon Leziyyon (Publication 1987), read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 19e20af73cd7…)
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