Israel's population has reached 10.244 million people ahead of its 78th Independence Day, marking an increase of about 146,000 residents, or 1.4 percent, over the past year. The figures were released by the Central Bureau of Statistics.

Of the total population, 7.790 million people, or 76 percent, are Jews, while 2.157 million, or 21.1 percent, are Arabs. Another 296,000 people, representing 2.9 percent, are classified as other.

Over the past year, approximately 177,000 babies were born in the country and around 21,000 people immigrated to Israel. The data also show that four out of five citizens were born in Israel. Since its establishment in 1948, the country's population has grown more than twelve and a half times.