The dynamics of fertility amongst the Jewish population of Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza Strip from 1990 to 2010

Anaïs Simard-Gendron, Université de Montréal
Simona Bignami, Université de Montréal

Jewish fertility in the settlements of the West Bank and Gaza Strip has been stable for at least 15 years with a TFR of almost five children per woman while fertility in Israel is about three children per woman (Statistical Abstracts of Israel, ICBS). Their fertility has stalled at a level well above replacement despite some major changes in lifestyle and living conditions. This article uses census data from 1995 and 2008 to examine the changing determinants of fertility amongst the Jewish population living in Israel compared to that of the Jewish population living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the stage when aggregated fertility levels reached stagnation. The preliminary results show that the negative effects on fertility of a higher education and participating in the workforce increase at higher parities, especially in Israel. Religiosity has a stronger positive impact on fertility in Israel than in the settlements; its effect increases at higher parities and is higher in 1995 than in 2008. Not being from Asia or Africa decreases fertility much more in Israel than in the settlements and its effect is lightly stronger in 2008 than in 1995. Finally, at higher parities, the effect of education on fertility becomes positive in the settlements in both census years.