On Israel’s Independence Day, after a turbulent year, Israelis are happy, the technology industry is booming and house prices are the lowest in years (although an apartment still costs a decade in savings).
Here is a look at Israel according to the numbers as the land becomes 73:
Happiness: Israel is ranked 12th in the UN annual annual report, based on the gross domestic product per capita, a healthy life expectancy and the opinions of residents of each country.
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Work and economics: In terms of jobs, more than 10 percent of Israelis work in the high-tech industry, a number that is still rising, Channel 12 News reports using statistics representing 2019.
The high-tech industry acknowledges that it has saved the Israeli economy from the worst COVID-19.
Illustrative: The DLD Tel Aviv Digital Conference, Israel’s largest high-tech event, September 27, 2016. The technology industry is one of the highest paid in Israel, with an average salary of NIS 23,375 ($ 6,719) per month. (Miriam Alster / Flash90)
Despite the severe recession caused by the pandemic, Israel continued to outperform other developed countries: the European Union economy contracted by 6.6% last year; with 3.5% in the US; and an average of 5.5% in OECD countries, while Israel’s GDP shrank by only 2.5%.
High technology is attractive to workers because of the good benefits, high remuneration and sense of job security.
In addition, 12.7% of Israelis work in education, 11.3% in health services and only 1% in agriculture and fishing, according to Channel 12. Agriculture was a major industry and a source of national pride in Israel’s early days. years.
Population and birth rate: Israel’s population – which rose to 9,327,000 in 2021 – is young. Despite being a Western country, Israel’s birth rate is higher than all other OECD countries. Israel’s average fertility rate is 3.01, and among secular women it is 2.2 – a number that continues to rise.
In addition, 28.1% of the population is 0-14 years old, and only 12% are 65 years and older, the Central Bureau of Statistics reported earlier this week.
Young Israelites Celebrate Purim in the Nahlaot Area in Jerusalem, March 17, 2014. (Nati Shohat / Flash 90)
Housing: Israel has become increasingly densely populated, with 40% of the country living in just 16 cities. In light of rising house prices, the planning administration is considering building skyscrapers across the country, Channel 12 said.
Due to rising costs, it is difficult to afford a home – a dream for many Israelis. Someone earning an average wage should save about 137 monthly salaries to afford an apartment, according to a survey by the Ministry of Construction and Housing. It’s been 11 and a half years.
Tents pitched on Rothschild Boulevard in Tel Aviv. The high house prices in his country are fed up, and hundreds have erected the tent city and promised to stay until the government offers a solution. August 1, 2011
(Photo by Yossi Zamir / Flash 90)
Although high, it is the lowest since 2012.
Cars and planes: In terms of traffic, the miles traveled on Israel’s roads have jumped more than tenfold in the last 50 years. This figure coincides with the number of cars owned by Israelis, which increased at the same rate.
To address the rising congestion, the road surface area according to Channel 12 increased much higher than the road length. This means that existing roads have been widened to accommodate additional lanes.
Passengers waiting to take off at Ben Gurion Airport, 22 August 2017. (Stuart Winer / Times of Israel)
In the last six years, the number of flights abroad has almost doubled according to the 2019 statistics, which indicates that more Israelis are traveling than ever before as prices fall.
Pandemic: Over the past year, Israel’s strong health services and successful vaccination campaign have helped accelerate the country’s recovery from the devastating effects of COVID-19, raising hopes that the crisis could be over in the past by 74th Independence Day.
As of Thursday, 53% of Israelis had received both Pfizer shots, with less than a million eligible Israelis yet to be vaccinated. Active cases were up to 3,008 and serious cases up to 219.
