A mounting exodus of high-earning Israelis working in tech and healthcare could cause substantial tax revenue losses, putting a dent in state coffers, a new study by the Israel Tax Authority warned.

The research by the Israel Tax Authority’s Planning and Economics Division, which examined incomes of Israeli emigrants over the past decade, found the rate at which affluent Israelis left the country increased sharply in 2023 and 2024, and was almost double what it was until 2019.

“From all the indicators regarding Israelis recently leaving the country a consistent picture emerges: the pace of emigration among the strong and affluent strata of society increased, whereas among the weaker strata, the departure rate is almost unchanged,” said Dr. Ariel Greizaz and Nili Ben-Tovim, the authors of the study. “An analysis of the emigrants’ incomes relative to the average income in the population reveals that previously, the emigrants’ income before leaving was similar to the average income in the economy, whereas today their income is about 50% higher – further evidence that in recent years, an affluent population has been emigrating from Israel.”

The authors of the study stated that it was difficult to determine whether this shift in the makeup of emigrants stemmed from major changes that occurred in society and the labor market following the COVID-19 pandemic, or whether it was a reaction to the political upheaval over the judicial overhaul and security events that started with the October 7 onslaught and war in Gaza that have been shaking Israel since 2023.

The study came on the heels of a new report released earlier this week which showed a record-setting trend of emigration from Israel continued in 2025, with nearly 50,000 Israelis leaving the country for the third year in a row.

Historically, much of Israel’s emigration has been framed around the pursuit of better economic opportunities abroad. The........

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