Life expectancy in Israel drops by half a year as trust in government declines

Life expectancy in Israel fell by about half a year following the outbreak of the war on October 7, 2023, while trust in the government and the judicial system continued to decline. The findings were published on Monday by the Central Bureau of Statistics in a report examining the state of Israeli society after the war began.

Despite the ongoing conflict, overall life satisfaction among Israelis remained high and unchanged in 2024. According to the report, 91 percent of respondents aged 20 and over said they were satisfied with their lives. However, fewer Israelis believe their lives will improve in the future. This decline was most pronounced in communities within 15 kilometers of the Lebanese border, where the share of respondents who said their lives would be less good or unchanged rose from 28.6 percent in 2023 to 39.2 percent in 2024.

Life expectancy during the first year of the war stood at 83.3 years, with an average of 81 years for men and 85.5 years for women. The drop in life expectancy reflects the inclusion of war casualties in the annual figures. In that year, Israel recorded 1,377 war-related fatalities, including 828 civilians and 509 soldiers. In 2024, there were an additional 406 war fatalities, 96 civilians and 310 soldiers.

The war also had a significant economic impact. At its outset, 35.7 percent of businesses across Israel were closed at least temporarily. In the Southern District, the figure reached 59.4 percent. While there has been notable recovery in the two months leading up to 2025, 10.3 percent of businesses in the Southern District remain closed.

Mental health indicators worsened sharply following October 7. The percentage of Israelis reporting feelings of depression rose from 25.5 percent in 2023 to 33.9 percent in 2024. In communities within 15 kilometers of the Lebanese border, the rate increased from 24.8 percent to 36.5 percent. In expanded Gaza border communities, it rose from 25.3 percent to 29.2 percent.

Stress levels followed a similar pattern. Among the general population, the share of respondents reporting stress increased from 58.2 percent in 2023 to 67.9 percent in 2024. In communities near the Lebanese border, it climbed from 62.7 percent to 75.6 percent, while in expanded Gaza border communities, it rose from 58.9 percent to 66.3 percent.

Trust in public institutions also continued to erode. Among Israelis aged 20 and over, trust in the judicial system declined from 43.5 percent in 2023 to 42.2 percent in 2024. Trust in the government fell from 26.9 percent to 24.6 percent, marking the lowest level recorded since 2015.