Quick facts
Jerusalem overview
Jerusalem (orange) and the other large cities of Israel
Jerusalem lies in Israel at 31.77°N, 35.22°E, about 786 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Jerusalem (UTC+3); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is the biggest urban centre of Israel: the next largest cities are Tel Aviv (432,892), Haifa (285,316), Rishon LeTsiyyon (258,535). Together, the three largest cities hold 17.4% of the national population.
The nearest large city is Modi‘in Makkabbim Re‘ut, about 24 km away, followed by Lod (37 km).
Israel as a whole has a live population of 9,687,266 (+1.4% a year) and ranks #98 of 238 countries — see the Israel population page for the full statistics and the Israel atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Jerusalem
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Modi‘in Makkabbim Re‘ut Central District | 24 km | 93,277 |
| Lod Central District | 37 km | 77,223 |
| Ramla Central District | 38 km | 76,246 |
| El‘ad Central District | 40 km | 48,763 |
| Reẖovot Central District | 41 km | 149,392 |
| Ness Ziona Central District | 43 km | 50,351 |
| Rosh Ha‘Ayin Central District | 44 km | 72,881 |
| Rishon LeTsiyyon Central District | 46 km | 258,535 |
Largest cities in Israel
| # | City | Region | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jerusalem | Jerusalem | 971,800 |
| 2 | Tel Aviv | Tel Aviv | 432,892 |
| 3 | Haifa | Haifa | 285,316 |
| 4 | Rishon LeTsiyyon | Central District | 258,535 |
| 5 | Petaẖ Tiqva | Central District | 253,529 |
| 6 | Netanya | Central District | 228,204 |
| 7 | Ashdod | Southern District | 226,838 |
| 8 | Beersheba | Southern District | 186,600 |
| 9 | Reẖovot | Central District | 149,392 |
| 10 | Ashkelon | Southern District | 144,073 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Jerusalem?
Jerusalem has about 971,800 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Jerusalem the capital of Israel?
No — Jerusalem is the largest city of Israel.
How big is Jerusalem compared with the rest of Israel?
Its 971,800 residents are 10% of the 9,687,266 people living in Israel today. It is the largest city in the country.
Where is Jerusalem?
In Israel, at latitude 31.77 and longitude 35.22, 786 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Modi‘in Makkabbim Re‘ut (24 km), Lod (37 km), Ramla (38 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Jerusalem Population 2026 — Israel. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/israel/jerusalem/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/israel/jerusalem/">Jerusalem Population 2026 — Israel</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.