Jerusalem: Facts and Trends 2009-2010

Population

Over the years, there has been an evident decline in the proportionate size of Jerusalem’s Jewish population, with a concomitant increase in the proportion of the Arab population. The proportion of the Jewish population fell from 74% in 1967 to 72% in 1980, and 65% in 2008. Conversely, the Arab population rose from 26% in 1967 to 28% in 1980, and 35% in 2008. In 2008, the Arab population constituted 35% of Jerusalem’s total population. This is a high proportion relative to the figure for Israel as a whole (20%), for Haifa (10%), and for Tel Aviv (4%).

Employment

In 2008, the rate of participation in the workforce in Jerusalem was 45%. This is a low rate compared to the rate in Israel and Haifa (56%) and Tel Aviv (66%). The rate of participation in the workforce among Jerusalem’s Jewish population was 48% (59% in the Jewish population in Israel as a whole), while the Arabs rate was 38% (45% in total of the Arab population in Israel).  In Israel in general, there is a significant gap between men and women in terms of participation in the workforce. In 2008, the participation rate in the workforce among Jerusalem male residents was relatively low, at 52%, compared to 71% in Tel Aviv, and 62% in Israel and Haifa. The rate among Jewish men in Jerusalem was 46%, compared to 61% of Arab men.

Education

In the 2008/09 school year, 149,900 students studied in the Hebrew education system in Jerusalem: 59,800 students (40%) attended the Hebrew education system in the JEA, while 90,100 students (60%) attended the Haredi Education Division.  In 2008/09, the number of students enrolled in the Arab education system in Jerusalem was 81,700, 60,700 of whom studied in the public Arab education system.