The Bank of Israel published its Statistical Bulletin for 2025, surveying key developments in Israel’s financial statistics over the past year. The first part covers the public’s financial assets portfolio, nonfinancial business sector debt, economic activity vis-à-vis abroad, and foreign exchange activity, while the second part includes papers on a new Credit Officers’ Survey, trends in public sector gross external debt, and households’ securities activity abroad. The Bulletin reports that the public’s financial assets portfolio rose by around 15.5% (about NIS 963 billion) to about NIS 7.2 trillion, driven by a NIS 459 billion increase in the equity component in Israel and a roughly NIS 211 billion rise in cash and deposits, with mutual fund assets reaching a record NIS 757 billion. Outstanding debt of the nonfinancial private sector increased by about NIS 204 billion (9%) to around NIS 2.5 trillion, including 11% growth in nonfinancial business sector debt, concentrated in domestic bank loans and tradable bonds, with real estate and construction debt reaching NIS 534 billion as of September 2025 (36% of nonfinancial business sector debt). Household debt rose by about NIS 57 billion (7%) to approximately NIS 903 billion, with housing debt at 72% of the total and new bank mortgages totalling about NIS 106 billion. On external positions, foreign assets increased 17% to USD 915 billion and liabilities 18% to USD 652 billion; net investment in Israel by nonresidents was USD 39 billion (USD 26 billion direct investment), while Israeli residents recorded net investments of USD 56 billion abroad. The shekel appreciated by about 12.5% against the US dollar and 8.4% in nominal effective terms, alongside net foreign exchange sales of USD 20 billion by institutional investors and net purchases of about USD 16 billion by the nonfinancial business sector and USD 10 billion by households. The report is available in Hebrew, with an English version to be published as soon as possible.
Bank of Israel 2026-03-16
Bank of Israel publishes 2025 Statistical Bulletin showing public financial assets up 15.5% to NIS 7.2 trillion and private sector debt up 9% to NIS 2.5 trillion
The Bank of Israel released its 2025 Statistical Bulletin, highlighting a 15.5% increase in the public's financial assets portfolio to NIS 7.2 trillion, driven by equity and cash/deposit growth. Nonfinancial private sector debt rose 9% to NIS 2.5 trillion, with significant increases in real estate and construction debt. Foreign assets and liabilities grew by 17% and 18% respectively, with the shekel appreciating 12.5% against the US dollar.