About the Center

Mission

To establish Israel’s first interdisciplinary research institute dedicated to studying the unique demographic patterns and trends in Israel, to understanding their social, economic, and environmental causes and implications, and to formulating evidence-based policy recommendations for decision makers

Why Population Science?

More than thirty population research centers operate at leading universities in the United States. These centers play central roles in advancing research, shaping public policy, and training professionals. In Europe, there are more than fifty institutes dedicated to population sciences, including the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (Germany), the Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science at Oxford (UK), and the Vienna Institute of Demography (Austria). The TAU Center for Population Science aims to promote demographic research at the highest level at Tel Aviv University.

Why Israel?

Israel as a Unique Demographic Case
• Israel presents a unique combination of fertility, mortality, and migration patterns, placing it between Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Middle East
• The highest fertility rate in the OECD for several decades
• Life expectancy among the highest in the world (especially for men)
• A country of immigration: about half of Jewish population growth since 1948 is migration-driven
• One of the few countries with comprehensive individual-level population data (education, income, health, housing, multigenerational links)
• This combination gives Israel strong potential as a model setting for demographic research Applied Significance
• Israel is expected to become the most densely populated OECD country in the coming decades
• Rapid growth and rising density will challenge infrastructure, services, and quality of life
• A national research institute is needed to place these issues on the public agenda and provide evidence-based analysis

Why Tel-Aviv University?

International Profile: Strong working relationships with leading international institutions (Max Planck, Oxford, the University of Texas, Stanford, the EUI, and others).
Demographic Leadership in Israel: Prominent representation on the Public Council for Statistics and its subcommittees; hosting international forums and workshops in demography in recent years, and collaboration with additional institutions in Israel and worldwide.
Leveraging Existing Expertise and Synergy with Other University Units: The School of the Environment; the Shoresh Institution for Socioeconomic Research; the Archimedes Center; the Herczeg Institute on Aging; the Cohen Institute for Public Opinion Research; the Center for Longevity Research; and the research room of the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics.
In addition, Tel Aviv University also hosts a significant program for international studies: the Lowy International School.