The Ethiopian-Israeli Community

• At the end of 2009, the Ethiopian community in Israel numbered 116,100 persons, of which 77,400 were born in Ethiopia and 38,700 (about one third of the community) were native Israelis ("Sabras") whose fathers were born in Ethiopia. (Data based on the 2008 population census.)
• The majority of the Ethiopian population lives in two districts: the Central District (39%) and the Southern District (24%).
• At the end of 2009, Netanya was the locality with the largest number of Ethiopian residents (9,800 persons).
• Ninety percent of persons of Ethiopian origin wedded during the year were married to a spouse of the same origin, men at a higher percentage than women (94% versus 87%).
• The average household size in the Ethiopian community was 3.9 persons, higher than the average for the general population (3.3) and for the population of Jews and others group (3.1). (These households are defined as ones in which the head of the household or his father were born in Ethiopia.)
• In 2009, Ethiopian households expended a monthly average of
  NIS 8,165, compared to NIS 13,009 for all households.
• The monthly expenditure on education, culture and entertainment among Ethiopian households was NIS 744, compared to NIS 1,812 for all households.
• Home Ownership: The value of an apartment owned by an Ethiopian household is NIS 687,000, compared to NIS 1,061,000 for households in the general population.  The housing density among the Ethiopian population is 1.34 persons per room, compared to 0.89 for households in the general population.
• The Ethiopian population in Israel is young in comparison with the Jews and others population group, with a high percentage of children and a low percentage of elderly people. In 2009, children aged 0-14 comprised 32% of this population, compared to one-quarter in the population of Jews and others, while the proportion of those aged 65 and above was 6% and 11%, respectively.(Jews and others include non-Arab Christians and those without a religious classification in the Ministry of the Interior.
• Among Ethiopian families, the proportion of single-parent families is particularly high – 27%, more than twice the nationwide percentage of single-parent families and the percentage of single-parent families among Jews and others
• About 73% of Ethiopian families have children up to age 17. A notable characteristic among these families is the high prevalence of families with 3-4 children up to age 17 – 48%, compared to 36% among all families and 30% among families of Jews and others.