At the end of 2012, there were 833,000 Israelis over the age of 65, including 468,000 women and 365,000 men, the Central Bureau of Statistics reports. The senior citizens make up 10% of the nation’s population, lower than the OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) average of 14.9%.
Almost half of the senior citizen population lives in the nation’s center and Gush Dan region. It is estimated that by 2035, senior citizens will comprise 14.6% of the country, doubling to 1.66 million people. A significant number of senior citizens do not have a pension, 45% of the men and 63% of the women. Despite this 62% of the senior citizens report that are satisfied with their financial situation. Among the general population, the level of economic satisfaction is only 55%.
200,000 seniors are living under the poverty line. Among those without a pension, 97% are living on their monthly Bituach Leumi payment and are receiving assistance from local welfare agencies. 39% of the seniors are living off of the husband’s pension and 16% are living off of the wife’s pension.
The average monthly expenditures among senior citizen households is 10,353 NIS, lower than the national average of 13,967 NIS. 24.8% of the men and 10.4% of women over 65 continue to work even after receiving their pensions. 95% of the seniors continue living in their own home.
A worrisome statistic is that 36% of pedestrians killed by vehicles are seniors. Simply stated, one in every three pedestrians killed in Israel is a senior citizen.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One Response
“one in every three pedestrians killed in Israel is a senior citizen”
this is because the alertness of seniors is sliding down yet they still believe they have the alertness of 18 year olds.
Seniors must realize that their alertness is way down compared to what it was and what it should be and look twice (or more) before entering a street or cross walk.