At the end of 2023, the population of Israel reached almost 9.7 million permanent residents. Jewish residents formed the largest religious group, with just over 7.15 million people. The Muslim population in the country, formed the largest religious minority at over 1.7 million individuals. Conversely, the smallest religious group was that of the Druze with about 151,000 people.

According to a 2023 survey, over 43 percent of Jews in Israel were secular, while 11.3 identified as ultra-orthodox. On the other hand, less than ten percent of Muslims in Israel were non-religious, and almost 64 percent identified as religious.

Jews were the dominant religious group in the Israel-Palestine region at the beginning of the first millennia CE, and are the dominant religious group there today, however, there was a period of almost 2,000 years where most of the world's Jews were displaced from their spiritual homeland. Antiquity to the 20th century Jewish hegemony in the region began changing after a series of revolts against Roman rule led to mass expulsions and emigration. Roman control saw severe persecution of Jewish and Christian populations, but this changed when the Byzantine Empire adopted Christianity as its official religion in the 4th century. Christianity then dominated until the 7th century, when the Rashidun Caliphate (the first to succeed Muhammad) took control of the Levant. Control of region split between Christians and Muslims intermittently between the 11th and 13th centuries during the Crusades, although the population remained overwhelmingly Muslim. Zionism until today Through the Paris Peace Conference, the British took control of Palestine in 1920. The Jewish population began growing through the Zionist Movement after the 1880s, which sought to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. Rising anti-Semitism in Europe accelerated this in the interwar period, and in the aftermath of the Holocaust, many European Jews chose to leave the continent. The United Nations tried facilitating the foundation of separate Jewish and Arab states, yet neither side was willing to concede territory, leading to a civil war and a joint invasion from seven Arab states. Yet the Jews maintained control of their territory and took large parts of the proposed Arab territory, forming the Jewish-majority state of Israel in 1948, and acheiving a ceasefire the following year. Over 750,000 Palestinians were displaced as a result of this conflict, while most Jews from the Arab eventually fled to Israel. Since this time, Israel has become one of the richest and advanced countries in the world, however, Palestine has been under Israeli military occupation since the 1960s and there are large disparities in living standards between the two regions.

In 2023, among secular Muslim families in Israel, almost 61 percent consisted of couples with children under the age of 17. Additionally, 10.6 percent of these non-religious families had adult children. Among traditional families, 62.2 percent were couples with younger children and 16.5 percent did not have children. Similarly, in religious Muslim families, 51.8 percent were couples with children under the age of 17, and 16.4 percent were childless.

In 2023, the Jewish population had the highest total fertility rate in Israel, at an average of 3 births per woman. Muslim women, on the other hand, had a rate of 2.81 children. The Druze and Christian religious communities had a total fertility rate of 1.75 and 1.64, respectively.

According to a survey, nearly half of the Jewish population in Israel followed kosher practices consistently in accordance with the Jewish tradition. On the other hand, just over 30 percent of Jews did not keep kosher at all, and 23 percent mostly kept kosher.

The number of households registered as Jewish in Israel reached roughly 2.36 million in 2023. In the same year, 469,300 households were registered as Arab, while 93,700 households were registered as belonging to population groups of other religions.

In 2025, the total budget of the Ministry of Religious Services in Israel was 749 million Israeli shekels, some 208 million U.S. dollars. This marked a decrease of about 13 percent compared to the previous year, and continued the downward trend since 2022. The Ministry's activities include the performance of marriage ceremonies and registrations, supervision of kosher regulations, as well as the provision of last rites.

Israel Consumer Price Index (CPI): EC: CE: Religious Artifacts and Ornaments data was reported at 101.200 2010=100 in Dec 2012. This records an increase from the previous number of 101.100 2010=100 for Nov 2012. Israel Consumer Price Index (CPI): EC: CE: Religious Artifacts and Ornaments data is updated monthly, averaging 93.400 2010=100 from Aug 1992 (Median) to Dec 2012, with 245 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 102.500 2010=100 in Mar 2009 and a record low of 52.900 2010=100 in Aug 1992. Israel Consumer Price Index (CPI): EC: CE: Religious Artifacts and Ornaments data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Israel – Table IL.I008: Consumer Price Index: 2010=100.

Israel Consumer Price Index (CPI): 2006=100: EC: CE: Religious Artifacts and Ornaments data was reported at 104.700 2006=100 in Dec 2008. This stayed constant from the previous number of 104.700 2006=100 for Nov 2008. Israel Consumer Price Index (CPI): 2006=100: EC: CE: Religious Artifacts and Ornaments data is updated monthly, averaging 93.400 2006=100 from Jan 1991 (Median) to Dec 2008, with 216 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 104.900 2006=100 in Sep 2008 and a record low of 47.400 2006=100 in Jan 1991. Israel Consumer Price Index (CPI): 2006=100: EC: CE: Religious Artifacts and Ornaments data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Central Bureau of Statistics. The data is categorized under Global Database’s Israel – Table IL.I012: Consumer Price Index: 2006=100.

In 2025, the state budget allocation to rabbinical courts in Israel was just over 209 million Israeli shekels, some 58 million U.S. dollars. This marked a decrease of almost four percent compared to the previous year, and a consistent decline since 2019. That year, the budget reached a peak of 277 million Israeli shekels, around 77 million U.S. dollars.

By 2060, Israel is expected to have 259,000 children enrolled in independent religious kindergartens. This represents an increase of about 20,000 more children in kindergartens compared to the previous forecast year of 2055. From a base of 135,000 children in 2025, the number of children enrolled in kindergartens is expected to nearly double over the forecast period.

As of January 2024, Arab Israelis identified most with their religion as an important element of their identity. In the same survey, the second most central identity element was the Arab identity. Between March and October 2023, Arab citizens of Israel were 18 percent less likely to report their Palestinian identity as important. Conversely, the Israeli identity became slightly more prominent among respondents. This shift was likely attributed to the start of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7, 2023, and its impact on Arab-Israeli society.

In a 2022 survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel, respondents answered a question about the influence of religion on life in the country. The data are presented according to the respondents' place of residence. In the city of Rishon LeZiyyon, located in central Israel, 63 percent of respondents believed that religious influence increased in recent years in the country. The cities of Haifa and Netanya followed, with 62 and 61 percent of respondents respectively agreeing with this statement. In contrast, only 50 percent of those surveyed in Bnei Brak, a predominantly Orthodox Jewish city, agreed with the statement.

In 2024, the state budget allocation to Sharia courts in Israel was just over 27 million Israeli shekels, some 7.5 million U.S. dollars. This marked a slight decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period observed, the budget of the Sharia courts remained relatively stable, with minor fluctuations.

Israel's population is aging steadily, with the median age projected to rise from 29 years in 2020 to 32 years by 2050. This demographic shift reflects global trends of increasing life expectancy and declining birth rates, though Israel maintained a relatively young population compared to many developed nations. The country's unique religious and cultural makeup contributed to regional variations in age distribution, presenting both opportunities and challenges for policymakers. Which region has the oldest population? As of 2023, over a quarter of Israelis were under the age of 14 years. The largest age group in the country being four-year olds and below. Interestingly, significant regional differences existed within the country when it came to age distribution and aging. While the median age in the Jerusalem district was below 24, Tel Aviv was the oldest region with an average age of over 34 years, highlighting significant demographic variations across different areas. How does religion influence demographics? Religious affiliation played a role in Israel's age structure and demographics. Muslims are the youngest religious group with a median age of 24 years, while Christians of Arab ethnicity are the oldest, at 35 years. Jews, the largest religious-ethnic group, had a median age of almost 32 years, but within the Jewish demographic, age and fertility varied greatly between people based on religiosity. These differences play a significant role in the country's population and future growth patterns.

In 2024, the state budget allocation to Druze religious courts in Israel reached almost 9.2 million Israeli shekels, some 2.5 million U.S. dollars. This reflected an increase of almost five percent compared to the previous year. The budget reached its peak in 2022 at roughly 9.3 million Israeli shekels, about 2.58 million U.S. dollars.

By 2060, Israel is expected to have 186,000 children enrolled in state-religious kindergartens. This represents an increase of about 15,000 more children in kindergartens compared to the previous forecast year of 2055. From a base of 97,000 children in 2025, the number of children enrolled in kindergartens is expected to nearly double over the forecast period.

Of the religious leaders funded by the state of Israel between 2021 and 2022, 508 served as local rabbis who are state employees. Furthermore, 352 served as imams and Druze Sais, and 284 as community rabbis. Additionally, 128 judicial office holders in religious courts received state funding.

In a survey conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics in Israel in 2022, 45 percent of religious Jews aged 20 and over were satisfied with the way democracy works in the country. 30 percent of the respondents in this social group were not so satisfied with the functioning of democracy, while 21 percent were not satisfied at all.

The question for which the respondents had to choose the degree of satisfaction was: "In general, are you satisfied with the way democracy functions in Israel?" with the following scale of choices: unknown, not satisfied at all, not so satisfied, and satisfied.