Trends in the number of children in Israel 1970-2006

Information and data are important for planning in any society. The number of children and adolescents in a community determines the demand for schools, health care facilities and other services for children and their families. Health, safety, education, recreation and social development are areas, where society needs to plan and invest, but this must be done according to reasonable predictions in order to be effective. We have in this communication looked at the trends in the number of children in Israel and found that during 1970-2006 the child population in Israel increased by 100% with the most increase in the Muslim child population (190.8%). The percentage of children of the whole population decreased from 39% to 33% in the study period in spite of the increase in number of children over the period. Irrespective of the decrease it is still high compared to for example 26% in the United States, so the population in Israel is still a younger one and service planning must be geared toward this demographic trend.