Israel’s population reaches 8.9 million on eve of new year

The population of Israel has reached 8.9 million, the Central Bureau of Statistics revealed in its annual report ahead of the Jewish New Year. As of Sunday, the population of Israel was exactly 8,904,373 people, which is 173,811 more than the same time last year.

The number of new immigrants to Israel over the course of the Jewish year was 24,801, while 176,230 babies were born. Of these babies 90,646 are boys and 85,584 are girls.

While on the topic of babies, it was also revealed that the most popular name given to boys this year was Yosef, and for girls it was Tamar. Other popular names included Daniel, Uri, Itai and Omer for boys and Noa, Shira, Adelle and Talia for girls.

Also over the last year 140,591 people registered as married while 32,457 got divorced.

At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commented on the Central Bureau of Statistics report, calling the population growth a victory over the Holocaust and other tragedies that befell the Jewish people.

"I can say that there are more than 6 million Jews in Israel, in comparison with the number of Jews that were taken from us over the last century," Netanyahu said.

"Our strength is in uniting as a people and staving off our enemies," he went on to say, wishing the people of Israel a happy holiday.