Population Data Report for Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley - as of January, 2023

In honor of Yom Yerushalayim, when we celebrate the liberation of Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, we have published a population data report for Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley.

As of January, 2023, the Israeli population in Judea, Samaria, and the Jordan Valley stands at 502,678 residents across approximately 150 communities. (The estimate for May, 2023, is close to 506,000 residents.)

In October, 2022 (Tishre 5783), we passed the half million threshold.

2022 presented an increase of 10,755 residents in the region.

We passed the half million!

The growth rate for the region in 2022 was 2.2% in contrast to 3.3% in 2021.

Residents of Judea and Samaria account for 5.2% of Israel’s population. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics, on 31 December, 2022, the population of Israel was estimated at approximately 9.565 million residents.

The past decade has shown a growth of 143,607 residents, which is an increase of 40% over a span of ten years.

Since 2012, the population has grown at an average rate of 3.4% per year.

The largest communities in Judea and Samaria are, needless to say, the cities, namely, and in order of size, Modiin Illit, Beitar Illit, Ma’ale Adumim, and Ariel, which are home to a total of 214,676 residents. These cities experienced an overall population growth of 1.6%, and they constitute 42% of the region’s population.

The local councils in Judea and Samaria govern over 115,629 residents, who constitute 23% of the region’s population. The largest local council is Givat Ze’ev, followed by Efrat and Karnei Shomron.

In 2022, Sha’ar Shomron, was established as a new local council, which united the communities of Etz Efraim and Sha’arei Tikva that had broken away from the Samaria Regional Council, and which comprise a total of 8,853 residents.

The regional councils spread across most of the territory represent 172,373 residents, who comprise 34% of the total population. The largest regional council is Mateh Binyamin, followed by Samaria, Gush Etzion, Har Hevron, the Jordan Valley, and Megilot.

The largest community, other than a local council or city, is Kochav Yaakov in the Binyamin region (which includes the Tel Zion community), followed by Geva Binyamin (Adam), Talmon, Shiloh, Alei Zahav (together with Leshem), Kfar Adumim, and Tekoa. The smallest community in Judea and Samaria is Na’aran in the Jordan Valley.  

The community that registered the most significant increase is Mevo’ot Yericho, with a growth of 40% in 2022. Among the remainder of the communities which experienced an especially high increase in growth is Na’ama (23%), Mevo Dotan (19%), Bruchin (14%), and Neguhot (14%).

Among the regional councils, the highest rate of growth was registered in the Jordan Valley, with a 4.7% increase. Other regional councils with a high percentage of growth include, from highest to lowest, Megilot (4.2%), Har Hevron (4.1%), Gush Etzion (3.4%), and Samaria (2.2%). It is important to note that the two large communities of Etz Ephraim and Sha’arei Tikva recently broke away from the Samaria Regional Council and formed a separate local council, which has had bearing on the growth percentages.

The local council with the most growth is Immanuel, whose population increased by 6.3%, followed by Givat Ze’ev (5.4%), and Elkana (5.3%).

Religious affiliation: The ultra-Orthodox community accounts for 37% of the population of Judea and Samaria, the religious Zionist community stands at 36%, and the secular population, 28%.