Nazerat Illit (נצרת עילית; sometimes spelled Nazareth Illit) is a city in the North District in Israel. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), at the end of 2001 the city had a total population of 44,200.

The name Nazareth Illit is Hebrew for "upper Nazareth", referring to the adjacent and much older city of Nazareth. (Sometimes the name is attributed "Nazareth Elite", but this is a false friend.) The separate, upper, town was created in the 1950s. It was planned for a predominantly Jewish population, which was to live alongside the predominantly Arab population of the original city of Nazareth.

Demographics

According to CBS, in 2001 the ethnic and religious makeup of the city was 91.0% Jewish and other non-Arabs, 9.0% Arab (2.3% Muslim and 6.7% Christian). In 2001 there were 655 immigrant settlers. See Population groups in Israel.

According to CBS, in 2001 there were 21,000 males and 23,200 females. The population of the city was spread out with 27.5% 19 years of age or younger, 14.8% between 20 and 29, 18.6% between 30 and 44, 18.7% from 45 to 59, 5.3% from 60 to 64, and 15.2% 65 years of age or older. The population growth rate in 2001 was -0.4%.

Income

According to CBS, as of 2000, in the city there were 17,229 salaried workers and 764 are self-employed. The mean monthly wage in 2000 for a salaried worker in the city is ILS 4,377, a real change of 6.4% over the course of 2000. Salaried males have a mean monthly wage of ILS 5,373 (a real change of 8.2%) versus ILS 3,388 for females (a real change of 3.8%). The mean income for the self-employed is 6,646. There are 1,377 people who receive unemployment benefits and 5,532 people who receive an income guarantee.

Education

According to CBS, there are 15 schools and 6,138 students in the city. They are spread out as 12 elementary schools and 3,042 elementary school students, and 5 high schools and 3,096 high school students. 56.8% of 12th grade students were entitled to a matriculation certificate in 2001.

External link

• Nazareth Illit municipal website (http://www.nazareth-illit.muni.il/)