Israel's population reached 7.8M in 2011

JERUSALEM, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Israel's population grew 1.8 percent to 7.8 million people in 2011, the country's Central Bureau of Statistics reported.

The year-end report from the ICBS Thursday indicates 166,000 babies were born in Israel throughout 2011, with 17,500 immigrants arriving in the country, Haaretz reported.

Jews comprise 75.3 percent of Israel's population, the report said, with 5.901 million people. Arab citizens make up another 20.5 percent, or 1.610 million.

Another 4.2 percent, or 325,000 people, is comprised of non-Arab Christians and those the Interior Ministry doesn't classify by religion.