More than half of the immigrants who came to Israel in 2014 were under the age of 35, including some 5,300 children and some 8,200 young adults between the ages of 18 and 34.

According to end-of-year figures released today by The Jewish Agency for Israel and the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption, Aliyah hit a ten-year high in 2014, with the arrival of some 26,500 new immigrants.* This marks a significant 32% increase over last year’s number of approximately 20,000 immigrants.

For the first time ever, France tops the list of countries of origin for immigrants to Israel, with nearly 7,000 new immigrants in 2014, double the 3,400 who came last year.

Additionally, some 5,840 new immigrants have come from Ukraine, compared to some 2,020 in 2013. This dramatic 190% increase is due primarily to the ongoing instability in the eastern part of the country.

Aliyah from Western Europe is up 88%, with the arrival of some 8,640 immigrants this year compared to some 4,600 last year. In addition to those from France, some 620 immigrants came to Israel from the United Kingdom, compared to 520 last year. The number of immigrants from Italy doubled to approximately 340. Aliyah from Belgium saw a modest decrease, to some 240 immigrants this year. The number of immigrants from Germany remained stable, at approximately 120.

Aliyah from the former Soviet Union is up 50%, with the arrival of some 11,430 immigrants compared to approximately 7,610 last year. In addition to those from Ukraine, 4,830 immigrants came from Russia, Belarus and the Baltic states, compared to 4,640 last year. Some 300 immigrants came from the Caucasus and some 390 from Central Asia.

Aliyah from Latin America remained stable, with the arrival of some 1,070 immigrants, similar to last year’s numbers. Aliyah from Brazil saw a 45% increase, with 300 immigrants compared to 210 in 2013. Approximately 297 immigrants came from Argentina, 76 from Mexico, 70 from Venezuela, 62 from Colombia, 58 from Uruguay, and 52 from Chile.

Aliyah from North America increased modestly, with the arrival of some 3,870 immigrants compared to some 3,600 last year. Approximately 3,470 immigrants came from the United States and 400 immigrants came from Canada, compared to 384 last year.

232 immigrants came to Israel from Eastern Europe, compared to approximately 270 last year. Approximately 126 immigrants came from Hungary, 32 from Poland, 24 from Romania, and 24 from Bulgaria.

190 immigrants came to Israel from South Africa, roughly the same as last year’s numbers. 200 immigrants came from Australia and New Zealand, compared to 260 in 2013.

More than half of the immigrants who came to Israel in 2014 were under the age of 35, including some 5,300 children and some 8,200 young adults between the ages of 18 and 34. The eldest immigrant this year was born in 1910 and made Aliyah from France at the age of 104. The youngest came from the United States and was only several weeks old.

Some 2,500 of the immigrants work in engineering and technological fields, and thousands hold degrees in the humanities, social sciences, life sciences and exact sciences. More than 1,000 doctors and health professionals made Aliyah, as did some 600 artists and athletes.

Tel Aviv led the chart of cities receiving new immigrants, with approximately 3,000 new Tel Avivians. The coastal city of Netanya came second and Jerusalem came in third.

*This data is tentative and is based on preliminary estimates by The Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Aliyah and Immigrant Absorption.*