World Jewish News

A new stage in decrease tendency of the recent immigration wave.

In 2002, 33 500 new repatriates arrived in Israel, that is 10 000 (23%) less than in 2001.
Thus, the decrease tendency of the recent immigration wave, which started in 1990, has reached a new stage. About 200000 people were repatriated to Israel in 1990; 176000 in 1991. During 1992-1996, 70000 - 80000 repatriates annually arrived in the country. In 1997-2000, their number was 60000 - 65000. The exception is 1999, the year of Russia's economical crisis, which made considerably large number of the Jews to repatriate.
Nevertheless, the number of the repatriates arriving at the "abatement" of the recent wave is two times larger than the number of repatriates having annually arrived in Israel before the wave began. Average 15000 repatriates would arrive in Israel annually in the 1980's. The 1970s had also seen a wave of immigration from the USSR, with over 30000 people being repatriated to Israel annually.
In 2002, a change in the continents of exodus has also been detected. Only fifty-five per cent of repatriates came from Europe, compared to 71% in 2001 and 90% in 1990-1994. Twelve per cent came from Asia. Only 55% (18500) of the repatriates from these two continents came from the former USSR; 26% - from America and Oceania. Approximately 8% came from Africa.

Источник: Jewish.ru