The ultra-Orthodox community is growing rapidly, but gaps in employment, income and military service remain, especially among Haredi men, according to IDI.
Israel Democracy Institute on Sunday published its 10th annual statistical report on ultra-Orthodox (haredi) society, which found stagnation in the employment of haredi men and conscription has persisted over the past decade as the community's population and yeshiva enrollment continue to grow.
The report comes as the government moves forward with legislation aimed at regulating haredi conscription and as the issue of exemption from military service remains under legal scrutiny.
According to the report, Ultra-Orthodox population of Israel has about 1.45 million people, which is about 14.3% of the country's total population. The IDI found that 57% of the ultra-Orthodox population is under 19 years of age, making it one of the youngest societies in the world.
The IDI said this age structure, driven by a fertility rate of approximately 6.5 children per woman, places constant and growing pressure on the education system, social welfare services and the labor market. The report notes that the birth rate and age at marriage have remained virtually unchanged over the past decade, contributing to the continued rapid growth of the ultra-Orthodox population.
Beyond these demographic trends, the report notes that the employment rates of ultra-Orthodox men have largely stagnated. The IDI reported that male employment rates have remained low at 50% over the past decade, while employment among ultra-Orthodox women has continued to rise and is now at a level almost identical to that of non-Haredi Jewish women. Despite this, the report found that the income levels of both ultra-Orthodox men and women remain significantly lower than those of their non-Haredi counterparts.
Rise of the ultra-Orthodox education system
The report also highlights the dramatic growth of the ultra-Orthodox education system. According to IDI, in the 2024-2025 school year, about 420,000 students were enrolled in ultra-Orthodox educational institutions, representing about 21% of all students in Israel and approximately 27% of students studying in Hebrew. Over the past decade, the number of yeshiva and kollel students has increased by 83%, from 92,500 to approximately 169,500.
The report notes that official data for 2024 shows a decline in the number of registered yeshiva and kollel students, but says that this reflects funding determinations rather than a decline in actual enrollment, since about 70,000 military-age students do not receive funding and therefore do not appear in the Ministry of Education data.
Although the number of ultra-Orthodox students eligible for the matriculation certificate (bagrut) has risen from 10% to 16% over the past decade, the IDI found that the gap compared with state and state-religious education, where eligibility is approximately 85%, remains huge.
In terms of military and national service, the report said 3,060 ultra-Orthodox graduates entered the military in 2024, almost identical to the figure a decade earlier. IDI noted that due to rapid demographic growth, this represents a decline in military recruitment rates in real terms. Of those who enlisted in the IDF, 55% were assigned to general branches rather than to structures dedicated to the ultra-Orthodox.
The report said this distribution indicates that many people considered ultra-Orthodox recruits either did not identify as ultra-Orthodox at the time of their service or have since left the community.
The IDI economic analysis also found that 33% of ultra-Orthodox families liveI'm below the poverty linecompared with 14% among non-Haredi Jewish families. At the same time, 75% of the ultra-Orthodox population own an apartment, which is slightly higher than that of non-Haredi Jews.
The report concluded that despite improvements in areas such as technological training, higher education and Internet use, overall data reflects a decade of stagnation in the integration of ultra-Orthodox men, particularly in employment, income and military service, even as the community continues to grow rapidly.
