Brain drain grows as ‘Israeli’ academics leave in record numbers
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Official 2024 data show a sharp rise in the emigration of ‘Israeli’ academics, especially in science and technology.
- 'Israeli' war on the Gaza, political turmoil, and budget cuts drive an accelerating brain drain.
‘Israel’ is facing what analysts describe as a "dangerous turning point" for its scientific base, as new official data reveal a rapid acceleration in the emigration of academic elites, according to 'Israeli' newspaper Haaretz.
Figures released by the ‘Israeli’ Central Bureau of Statistics for 2024 show that 55,000 graduates of ‘Israeli’ universities were living abroad last year, amid growing anxiety among young researchers linked to the ‘Israeli’ war on Gaza.
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Negative academic migration
The bureau reported a negative migration balance among degree holders, with more academics leaving ‘Israel’ than returning. Those departing are largely young, highly educated professionals with bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees, many of them from wealthy areas of Tel Aviv and its northern suburbs.
The data cover individuals who earned their degrees between 1990 and 2018, underscoring that the trend goes beyond temporary postdoctoral research abroad and reflects long-term relocation.
Sciences hit hardest
The crisis is particularly acute in the exact sciences. About 25.4% of PhD holders in mathematics live outside ‘Israel’, followed by computer science at 21.7%, genetics at 19.4%, physics at 17%, and roughly 14% in chemistry, electrical engineering, and biology, according to Haaretz.
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Overall, 11.9% of doctorate holders and 8.1% of master’s degree graduates were living abroad in 2024, the statistics showed.
Political, security, and financial drivers
The Central Bureau of Statistics attributed the accelerating brain drain to a combination of political tensions, security deterioration, and government financial policies.
Politically, attempts by the ‘Israeli’ government to weaken the judiciary have caused deep divisions, accompanied by what the report described as verbal attacks by ministers against academic institutions. From a security perspective, the ‘Israeli’ war on Gaza, now in its second year, has intensified uncertainty and pushed many researchers to seek stability abroad.
Financially, higher education has been hit by budget cuts totaling $190 million, with funds redirected to narrow coalition interests, including support for settlers and ultra-Orthodox groups. Research budgets have also been transferred to the Ministry of National Security and public relations efforts, further straining universities.
Growing international isolation
The internal decline has coincided with rising international academic boycotts, the newspaper reported, contributing to a drop in European research grants, which are considered a vital lifeline for ‘Israeli’ scientific research.
Together, the trends signal mounting pressure on ‘Israel’s’ academic sector, raising concerns among researchers and policy analysts that the continued loss of talent could have long-term consequences for scientific output, innovation, and economic competitiveness.
