List of cities in Israel

This article lists the 78 localities in Israel that the Israeli Ministry of Interior has designated as a city council. It includes occupied East Jerusalem but excludes the four Israeli settlements in the West Bank that are designated as cities.
The list is based on the current index of the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). Within Israel's system of local government, an urban municipality can be granted a city council by the Interior Ministry when its population exceeds 20,000.[1] The term "city" does not generally refer to local councils or urban agglomerations, even though a defined city often contains only a small portion of an urban area or metropolitan area's population.
List of cities
As for 2025, Israel has 18 cities with populations over 100,000, including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv-Yafo. In all, there are 80 Israeli localities granted "municipalities" (or "city") status by the Ministry of the Interior, including four Israeli settlements in the West Bank.[2] Two more cities are planned: Kasif, a planned city to be built in the Negev, and Harish, originally a small town currently being built into a large city. The area and population of Jerusalem includes that of East Jerusalem which has been de facto annexed by Israel and incorporated within Jerusalem's municipal borders under the Jerusalem Law. This, however, is not recognized by the international community who regard East Jerusalem to be Palestinian territory held under Israeli occupation.[3][4] If East Jerusalem is considered part of Israel, Tel Aviv is the country's second most populous city with 495,230 residents after Jerusalem with 1,028,366; if not, Tel Aviv is the most populous city before West Jerusalem with 362,960.
The following table lists Israeli cities, not including the settlements, by name, district, population, area, and the Socio-Economic Index, according to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics:
Name | Photo | District | Founded | Population | Area (km2) [5] |
Density (per km2) |
SEI[6] | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Estimate (2023) [7] |
Census (2022) [8] |
Change (2022– –2023) | |||||||
Acre[cbs 1] | ![]() |
North | Bronze Age | 53,422 | 50,555 | +6% | 18.09 | 2,953 | −0.467 |
Afula | ![]() |
North | Bronze Age | 64,578 | 60,828 | +6% | 29.17 | 2,214 | −0.327 |
Arad | South | 1962 | 29,323 | 27,586 | +6% | 126.13 | 232 | −0.876 | |
Arraba[cbs 2] | North | N/A | 26,810 | 26,119 | +3% | 8.4 | 3,192 | −0.728 | |
Ashdod | South | 1956[note 1] | 229,173 | 227,865 | +1% | 63.9 | 3,586 | −0.246 | |
Ashkelon[cbs 3] | ![]() |
South | Neolithic | 161,744 | 152,370 | +6% | 52.32 | 3,091 | −0.135 |
Baqa al-Gharbiyye | ![]() |
Haifa | Middle Ages | 30,750 | 29,868 | +3% | 9.18 | 3,350 | −0.560 |
Bat Yam | ![]() |
Tel Aviv | 1926 | 131,099 | 128,152 | +2% | 9.41 | 13,932 | −0.219 |
Be'er Ya'akov[cbs 4] | Center | 1907 | 34,601 | 31,439 | +10% | 9.46 | 3,658 | 0.783 | |
Beersheba[cbs 5] | South | 1900[note 2] | 218,995 | 217,577 | +1% | 117.39 | 1,866 | −0.111 | |
Beit She'an[cbs 6] | North | Neolithic | 20,249 | 19,825 | +2% | 10.97 | 1,846 | −0.392 | |
Beit Shemesh[cbs 7] | ![]() |
Jerusalem | 1950 | 167,318 | 145,554 | +15% | 38.29 | 4,370 | −1.485 |
Bnei Brak[cbs 8] | ![]() |
Tel Aviv | 1924 | 223,785 | 216,869 | +3% | 7.35 | 30,447 | −1.627 |
Dimona | South | 1955 | 39,230 | 37,213 | +5% | 220.46 | 178 | −0.387 | |
Eilat[cbs 9] | ![]() |
South | 1951 | 57,339 | 55,213 | +4% | 101.49 | 565 | 0.151 |
El'ad | Center | 1998 | 49,766 | 48,825 | +2% | 3.49 | 14,260 | −1.452 | |
Ganei Tikva[cbs 10] | ![]() |
Center | 1949 | 25,093 | 23,650 | +6% | 2.16 | 11,617 | 1.474 |
Giv'at Shmuel[cbs 11] | ![]() |
Center | 1944 | 28,628 | 27,472 | +4% | 2.58 | 11,096 | 1.135 |
Givatayim[cbs 12] | ![]() |
Tel Aviv | 1922 | 58,557 | 58,052 | +1% | 3.24 | 18,073 | 1.569 |
Hadera | ![]() |
Haifa | 1891 | 106,765 | 103,847 | +3% | 56.28 | 1,897 | 0.184 |
Haifa | ![]() |
Haifa | Antiquity | 298,312 | 289,507 | +3% | 72.93 | 4,090 | 0.391 |
Harish | ![]() |
Haifa | 1982 | 39,001 | 31,733 | +23% | 9 | 4,333 | −0.182 |
Herzliya[cbs 13] | ![]() |
Tel Aviv | 1924 | 108,650 | 105,273 | +3% | 24.07 | 4,514 | 1.361 |
Hod HaSharon | Center | 1924 | 65,393 | 65,020 | +1% | 19.26 | 3,395 | 1.567 | |
Holon | ![]() |
Tel Aviv | 1935 | 192,980 | 192,655 | 0% | 19.04 | 10,136 | 0.371 |
Jerusalem | ![]() |
Jerusalem | Neolithic (East Jerusalem) mid-1800s (West Jerusalem) |
1,028,366 | 1,005,919 | +2% | 125.55 | 8,191 | −1.196 |
Kafr Qara[cbs 14] | Haifa | N/A | 20,580 | 19,890 | +3% | 7.81 | 2,635 | −0.112 | |
Kafr Qasim[cbs 15] | ![]() |
Center | 19th century | 27,121 | 26,389 | +3% | 9.3 | 2,916 | −0.574 |
Karmiel[cbs 16] | ![]() |
North | 1964 | 48,675 | 47,450 | +3% | 22.03 | 2,209 | 0.020 |
Kfar Saba[cbs 17] | ![]() |
Center | 1903 | 100,013 | 100,262 | 0% | 14.48 | 6,907 | 1.192 |
Kfar Yona[cbs 18] | ![]() |
Center | 1932 | 29,548 | 28,135 | +5% | 11.51 | 2,567 | 0.781 |
Kiryat Ata[cbs 19] | ![]() |
Haifa | 1925 | 62,134 | 60,465 | +3% | 24.16 | 2,572 | 0.090 |
Kiryat Bialik[cbs 20] | ![]() |
Haifa | 1934 | 46,417 | 44,806 | +4% | 8.48 | 5,474 | 0.328 |
Kiryat Gat[cbs 21] | ![]() |
South | 1954 | 69,762 | 63,386 | +10% | 15.85 | 4,401 | −0.552 |
Kiryat Malakhi[cbs 22] | ![]() |
South | 1950 | 27,396 | 26,362 | +4% | 4.58 | 5,982 | −0.671 |
Kiryat Motzkin[cbs 23] | ![]() |
Haifa | 1934 | 51,349 | 49,057 | +5% | 3.84 | 13,372 | 0.402 |
Kiryat Ono[cbs 24] | ![]() |
Tel Aviv | 1939 | 43,310 | 41,537 | +4% | 4.6 | 9,415 | 1.594 |
Kiryat Shmona[cbs 25] | North | 1949 | 24,254 | 23,083 | +5% | 14.38 | 1,687 | −0.163 | |
Kiryat Yam[cbs 26] | ![]() |
Haifa | 1941 | 42,246 | 38,906 | +9% | 11.34 | 3,725 | −0.247 |
Lod | Center | Neolithic | 90,814 | 87,430 | +4% | 14.79 | 6,140 | −0.738 | |
Ma'alot-Tarshiha | North | 1963 | 23,133 | 22,720 | +2% | 9.26 | 2,498 | −0.057 | |
Maghar[cbs 27] | North | N/A | 23,184 | 22,564 | +3% | 21.11 | 1,098 | −0.793 | |
Migdal HaEmek[cbs 28] | North | 1953 | 28,545 | 27,045 | +6% | 8.71 | 3,277 | −0.398 | |
Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut [cbs 29] |
Center | 1985 | 97,566 | 92,307 | +6% | 48.33 | 2,019 | 1.420 | |
Nahariya[cbs 30] | ![]() |
North | 1935 | 68,316 | 63,318 | +8% | 13.83 | 4,940 | 0.143 |
Nazareth | ![]() |
North | Bronze Age | 77,208 | 77,295 | 0% | 14.17 | 5,449 | −0.704 |
Nesher | Haifa | 1923 | 22,760 | 22,911 | −1% | 12.94 | 1,759 | 0.564 | |
Ness Ziona[cbs 31] | ![]() |
Center | 1883 | 47,534 | 47,620 | 0% | 15.68 | 3,032 | 1.304 |
Netanya | Center | 1929 | 233,485 | 223,920 | +4% | 34.75 | 6,719 | 0.084 | |
Netivot | ![]() |
South | 1956 | 52,877 | 45,024 | +17% | 16.22 | 3,260 | −0.762 |
Nof HaGalil | ![]() |
North | 1957 | 45,587 | 43,479 | +5% | 32.86 | 1,387 | −0.298 |
Ofakim[cbs 32] | ![]() |
South | 1955 | 37,837 | 35,355 | +7% | 16.35 | 2,314 | −0.730 |
Or Akiva[cbs 33] | ![]() |
Haifa | 1951 | 24,203 | 22,173 | +9% | 5.55 | 4,361 | −0.009 |
Or Yehuda | Tel Aviv | 1955 | 40,143 | 36,850 | +9% | 6.73 | 5,965 | 0.005 | |
Petah Tikva[cbs 34] | ![]() |
Center | 1878 | 267,196 | 264,046 | +1% | 35.77 | 7,470 | 0.550 |
Qalansawe | ![]() |
Center | Middle Ages | 24,728 | 23,951 | +3% | 8.37 | 2,954 | −0.732 |
Ra'anana[cbs 35] | Center | 1922 | 83,145 | 80,155 | +4% | 14.86 | 5,595 | 1.280 | |
Rahat | ![]() |
South | 1972 | 75,684 | 71,355 | +6% | 33.48 | 2,261 | −1.845 |
Ramat Gan | ![]() |
Tel Aviv | 1921 | 167,794 | 165,155 | +2% | 16.39 | 10,238 | 1.099 |
Ramat HaSharon | Tel Aviv | 1923 | 49,002 | 48,986 | 0% | 16.73 | 2,929 | 1.699 | |
Ramla | ![]() |
Center | 8th century | 84,312 | 81,126 | +4% | 13.39 | 6,297 | −0.399 |
Rehovot | Center | 1890 | 153,416 | 150,471 | +2% | 23.76 | 6,457 | 0.601 | |
Rishon LeZion[cbs 36] | ![]() |
Center | 1882 | 258,680 | 252,413 | +2% | 61.91 | 4,178 | 0.727 |
Rosh HaAyin | ![]() |
Center | 1949 | 77,104 | 74,572 | +3% | 15.86 | 4,862 | 0.781 |
Safed[cbs 37] | ![]() |
North | Bronze Age | 39,179 | 37,801 | +4% | 29.94 | 1,309 | −1.351 |
Sakhnin | North | Bronze Age | 33,201 | 32,355 | +3% | 11.53 | 2,880 | −0.511 | |
Sderot[cbs 38] | ![]() |
South | 1951 | 35,477 | 31,108 | +14% | 10.66 | 3,328 | −0.132 |
Shefa-Amr[cbs 39] | North | Bronze Age | 43,408 | 42,713 | +2% | 19.63 | 2,211 | −0.712 | |
Tamra | ![]() |
North | N/A | 36,251 | 35,349 | +3% | 29.77 | 1,218 | −0.773 |
Tayibe | ![]() |
Center | N/A | 46,194 | 45,071 | +2% | 18.91 | 2,443 | −0.680 |
Tel Aviv-Yafo | ![]() |
Tel Aviv | Neolithic (Jaffa) 1887 (Neve Tzedek) |
495,230 | 492,872 | 0% | 57.1 | 8,673 | 1.293 |
Tiberias | ![]() |
North | 20 | 51,476 | 48,509 | +6% | 16.19 | 3,179 | −0.779 |
Tira[cbs 40] | ![]() |
Center | N/A | 27,228 | 26,567 | +2% | 11.85 | 2,298 | −0.275 |
Tirat Carmel[cbs 41] | ![]() |
Haifa | N/A | 31,896 | 29,069 | +10% | 6.71 | 4,754 | 0.108 |
Umm al-Fahm | ![]() |
Haifa | N/A | 59,319 | 57,560 | +3% | 26.03 | 2,279 | −1.266 |
Yavne | Center | Bronze Age | 57,725 | 54,981 | +5% | 29.18 | 1,978 | 0.514 | |
Yehud-Monosson[cbs 42] | ![]() |
Center | N/A | 32,071 | 30,977 | +4% | 5.73 | 5,597 | 0.963 |
Yokneam Illit[cbs 43] | ![]() |
North | 1950 | 24,910 | 23,729 | +5% | 8.31 | 2,998 | 0.795 |
See also
- Arab localities in Israel
- Chronology of Aliyah in modern times
- Demographics of Israel
- Districts of Israel
- Four Holy Cities
- Jewish population by city
- List of cities in Palestine
- List of kibbutzim
- List of largest cities in the Levant region by population
- List of modern names for biblical place names
- List of moshavim
- List of twin towns and sister cities in Israel
- List of villages depopulated during the Arab–Israeli conflict
- Lists of cities by country
- Population displacements in Israel after 1948
- Population statistics for Israeli settlements in the West Bank
- Urban planning in Israel
Notes
- General
- ^ Tel Ashdod, remains of the ancient town, lies east of the modern city.
- ^ Tel Be'er Sheva, remains of the ancient town, lies east of the modern city.
- Official spellings
- ^ Akko
- ^ Arrabe
- ^ Ashqelon
- ^ Be'er Ya'aqov
- ^ Be'er Sheva
- ^ Bet She'an
- ^ Bet Shemesh
- ^ Bene Beraq
- ^ Elat
- ^ Ganne Tiqwa
- ^ Giv'at Shemu'el
- ^ Giv'atayim
- ^ Herzliyya
- ^ Kafar Qara
- ^ Kafar Qasem
- ^ Karmi'el
- ^ Kefar Sava
- ^ Kefar Yona
- ^ Qiryat Atta
- ^ Qiryat Bialik
- ^ Qiryat Gat
- ^ Qiryat Mal'akhi
- ^ Qiryat Motzkin
- ^ Qiryat Ono
- ^ Qiryat Shemona
- ^ Qiryat Yam
- ^ Mughar
- ^ Migdal HaEmeq
- ^ Modi'in-Makkabbim-Re'ut
- ^ Nahariyya
- ^ Nes Ziyyona
- ^ Ofaqim
- ^ Or Aqiva
- ^ Petah Tiqwa
- ^ Ra'annana
- ^ Rishon LeZiyyon
- ^ Zefat
- ^ Sederot
- ^ Shefar'am
- ^ Tire
- ^ Tirat Karmel
- ^ Yehud-Monoson
- ^ Yoqne'am Illit
References
- ^ "Israeli Democracy: How Does It Work?". Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 22 June 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2013.
- ^ "Localities and Population, by Municipal Status and District" (PDF). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 19 January 2025. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ Symon, Fiona (4 December 2001). "Jerusalem: Crucible of the conflict". BBC News Online. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ "Background on East Jerusalem". B'Tselem. 8 July 2012. Retrieved 11 October 2012.
- ^ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ Local Authorities, in Alphabetical Order of Hebrew Names: Socio-Economic Index Value 2021, Rank and Cluster, and Variables Used in the Computation of the Index (PDF). Characterization and Classification of Geographical Units by the Socio-Economic Level of the Population (Report). Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2021. Retrieved 16 August 2025.
- ^ "Regional Statistics". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved 11 August 2025.
- ^ "Population Census". Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2025.